User interface and lock features for positioning multiple components within a body

ABSTRACT

Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for positioning electrodes within a body. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus for slidably moving multiple features relative to a sheath insertable into a body and positionable relative to a reference point includes a primary actuator configured to move a primary electrode to a first position. A secondary actuator is configured to move a secondary electrode to a second position. A shrouding device is configured to selectively prevent access to the secondary actuator until the primary actuator has been manipulated to extend the primary electrode to the first position.

PRIORITY CLAIM

The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 15/933,337, filed Mar. 22, 2018, which is a continuation-in-part ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/462,872, filed on Mar. 19, 2017, nowissued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,987,161, and U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/462,880, filed on Mar. 19, 2017, each of which claims the priorityand benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/311,226filed on Mar. 21, 2016; the contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a user interface and lock features forpositioning multiple components within a body.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background informationrelated to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

Inserting and manipulating thin elements within living bodies or otherobjects allows for ever-improving types of analysis, diagnosis, andtreatment of those bodies or objects with minimally invasive techniques.By way of two examples, endoscopic imaging and catherization treatmentshave enabled evaluation and treatment of numerous internal lesionswithout invasive surgery.

Electrosurgical techniques also provide for minimally invasive therapiesby selectively applying electrical current to selected tissues.Electrosurgical techniques involve extending one or more electrodesthrough an orifice or a small incision to a desired location within abody, then applying a radio frequency (“RF”) electric current to theelectrodes to coagulate and/or ablate tissue at that location. Monopolarelectrosurgical instruments only entail use of one electrode thatinteracts with a neutral electrode, which is likewise connected to thebody of a patient. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument typicallyincludes a user interface used for positioning two electrodes, which mayinclude a distal electrode and a proximal electrode.

Positioning one or two electrodes at the desired location is animportant part of such electrosurgical treatments. Moving and holdingelectrodes in place, particularly when more than one electrode has to bemoved or held independently of another electrode, may present achallenge for the medical personnel directing the treatment. Becausepositioning one or more electrodes in place may involve adhering to anorder of steps, assisting an operator in properly following a sequencealso may be important.

SUMMARY

Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses for slidably moving multiplecomponents within a body, systems for treating tissue at a referencepoint, and methods for moving electrodes into positions for ablativeelectrical treatment at a reference point.

In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus for slidably moving multiplefeatures relative to a sheath inserted into a body and positionedrelative to a reference point includes a primary actuator configured tomove a primary electrode, a secondary actuator configured to move asecondary electrode, and a control mechanism. The control mechanism isconfigured to selectively prevent movement of at least one of theprimary actuator based on a position of the secondary actuator and ofthe secondary actuator based on a position of the primary actuator andlock positions of the primary actuator and the secondary actuator.

In another illustrative embodiment, a system for treating tissue at areference point includes a controllable electrical power sourceconfigured to selectively provide electrical power between a first poleand a second pole. An electrosurgical apparatus is configured to beinserted into a body to convey a sheath containing a primary electrodeelectrically coupled to the first pole of the electrical power sourceand a secondary electrode electrically coupled to the second pole of theelectrical power source to a vicinity of a reference point. A sheathactuator is configured to move the sheath relative to the referencepoint. A sheath lock is configured to selectively lock a position of thesheath. A primary actuator is configured to move the primary electrode.A secondary actuator is configured to move the secondary electrode. Acontrol mechanism includes a control mechanism configured to selectivelyprevent movement of at least one of the primary actuator based on aposition of the secondary actuator and of the secondary actuator basedon a position of the primary actuator and to lock positions of theprimary actuator and the secondary actuator.

In a further illustrative embodiment, a method is provided for preparingelectrodes for ablative electrical treatment of tissue at a referencepoint. A sheath containing a primary electrode and a secondary electrodeis extended, wherein the secondary electrode is contained within theprimary electrode and initially coupled to move with the primaryelectrode. Movement of the primary electrode is unlocked, the primaryelectrode is moved to a first location near the reference point, and theprimary electrode is locked in position at the first location. Movementof the secondary electrode is unlocked, the secondary electrode is movedto a second location near the reference point, and the secondaryelectrode is locked in position at the second location.

In an additional illustrative embodiment, an apparatus for slidablymoving multiple features relative to a sheath inserted into a body andpositioned relative to a reference point includes a primary actuatorconfigured to move a primary electrode, a secondary actuator configuredto deploy a secondary electrode by moving the secondary electrodeindependently of the primary electrode, and a control mechanism. Thecontrol mechanism includes a primary release configured to selectivelypermit movement of the primary actuator, a secondary release configuredto selectively decouple the secondary actuator from the primary actuatorand permit movement of the secondary actuator within a predeterminedrange, and an actuator interlock configured to selectively preventactivation of the primary release.

In another illustrative embodiment, a system for treating tissue at areference point includes an electrical power source configured toselectively provide electrical power between a first pole and a secondpole. An electrosurgical apparatus is configured to be inserted into abody to convey a sheath containing a primary electrode electricallycoupled to the first pole of the electrical power source and a secondaryelectrode electrically coupled to the second pole of the electricalpower source to a vicinity of a reference point. A sheath actuator isconfigured to move the sheath relative to the reference point and asheath lock configured to selectively lock a position of the sheath. Aprimary actuator is configured to move the primary electrode. Asecondary actuator is configured to deploy the secondary electrode bymoving the secondary electrode independently of the primary electrode. Acontrol mechanism includes a primary release configured to selectivelypermit movement of the primary actuator, a secondary release configuredto selectively decouple the secondary actuator from the primary actuatorand permit movement of the secondary actuator within a predeterminedrange, and an actuator interlock configured to selectively preventactivation of the primary release.

In a further illustrative embodiment, a method of using an apparatus tomove electrodes into positions for ablative electrical treatment oftissue at a reference point includes extending a sheath toward areference point. The sheath contains a primary electrode mechanicallycoupled to a primary actuator and selectively lockable by a primaryrelease. The sheath also contains a secondary electrode mechanicallycoupled to a secondary actuator and lockable by a secondary release,where the secondary electrode is slidably received within the primaryelectrode. The primary release is activated to permit movement of theprimary actuator. The primary actuator is moved to move the primaryelectrode to a first location relative to the reference point. Theprimary release is locked to lock the primary actuator to maintain theprimary electrode at the first location. The secondary release isactivated to decouple the secondary actuator from the primary actuatorto permit movement of the secondary actuator independent of the primaryactuator. The secondary actuator is moved to move the secondaryelectrode to a second location relative to the reference point. Thesecondary release is locked to lock the secondary actuator to maintainthe secondary electrode at the second location.

In an additional illustrative embodiment, an apparatus for slidablymoving multiple features relative to a sheath inserted into a body andpositioned relative to a reference point includes a housing mechanicallycoupled with a primary electrode and defining a guide slot havingsections transverse and parallel to an axis of the housing. A sleevehaving a distal end is configured to engage an electrosurgical deviceand a proximal end configured to be slidably received within a first endof the housing. A latch disposed at the first end of the housing isconfigured to selectively enable the housing to move along the sleeve tomove the primary electrode to a first location relative to the referencepoint. A secondary actuator is received within the housing and coupledwith a secondary electrode, where the secondary actuator is configuredto move independently of the primary electrode parallel to the axis ofthe housing. An interlock lever mechanically is coupled with thesecondary actuator and extends through the guide slot. An interlocklever also includes a clamp configured to lock the secondary actuator tothe sleeve when the secondary electrode reaches a second locationrelative to the reference point.

In another illustrative embodiment, a system for treating tissue at areference point includes an electrical power source configured toselectively provide electrical power between a first pole and a secondpole. An electrosurgical device is configured to be inserted into a bodyto convey a sheath containing a primary electrode electrically coupledto the first pole of the electrical power source and a secondaryelectrode electrically coupled to the second pole of the electricalpower source to a vicinity of a reference point. A sheath actuator isconfigured to move the sheath relative to the reference point. A sheathlock is configured to selectively lock a position of the sheath. Ahousing is mechanically coupled with a primary electrode and includes aguide slot having sections transverse and parallel to an axis of thehousing. A sleeve having a distal end is configured to engage abronchoscope and a proximal end configured to be slidably receivedwithin a first end of the housing. A latch is disposed at the first endof the housing and is configured to selectively enable the housing tomove along the sleeve to move the primary electrode to a first locationrelative to the reference point. A secondary actuator received withinthe housing is coupled with a secondary electrode and is configured tomove independently of the primary electrode parallel to the axis of thehousing. An interlock lever is mechanically coupled with the secondaryactuator and extends through the guide slot, and the interlock leverfurther includes a clamp configured to lock the secondary actuator tothe sleeve when the secondary electrode reaches a second locationrelative to the reference point.

In a further illustrative embodiment, a method of moving electrodes intopositions for ablative electrical treatment of tissue at a referencepoint includes extending a sheath that contains a primary electrode thatis mechanically coupled to a housing and is selectively lockable by alatch and a secondary electrode that is mechanically coupled to thesecondary actuator and is lockable by an interlock lever. The secondaryelectrode is slidably received within the primary electrode. The latchis released to enable the housing to move the primary electrode relativeto the reference point. The housing is slid to move the primaryelectrode to a first location relative to the reference point. The latchis secured to prevent movement of the housing relative to the sleeve.The interlock lever is moved through a series of positions in the guideslot on the housing for decoupling the secondary electrode from theprimary electrode and moving the secondary electrode to a secondlocation relative to the reference point.

In an additional embodiment, an apparatus for slidably moving multiplefeatures relative to a sheath inserted into a body and positionedrelative to a reference point includes a secondary electrode slider thatis mechanically coupled with a secondary electrode and that supports asecondary actuator. A primary electrode slider is configured to slidablyand rotatably receive the secondary electrode slider, the primaryelectrode slider being mechanically coupled with a primary electrode,supporting a primary actuator, and defining an intermediate guide slotconfigured to receive and engage the secondary actuator. An outerhousing includes a first end facing toward the reference point. Theouter housing is configured to slidably and rotatably receive theprimary electrode slider and defines a first guide slot configured toreceive and engage the primary actuator and a second guide slotconfigured to receive the secondary actuator when the secondary actuatoris positioned under the second guide slot.

In another illustrative embodiment, a system for treating tissue at areference point includes an electrical power source configured toselectively provide electrical power between a first pole and a secondpole. An electrosurgical device is configured to be inserted into a bodyto convey a sheath containing a primary electrode electrically coupledto the first pole of the electrical power source and a secondaryelectrode electrically coupled to the second pole of the electricalpower source to a vicinity of the reference point. A sheath actuator isconfigured to move the sheath relative to the reference point. A sheathlock is configured to selectively lock a position of the sheath. Asecondary electrode slider is mechanically coupled with a secondaryelectrode and supports a secondary actuator. A primary electrode slideris configured to slidably and rotatably receive the secondary electrodeslider, is mechanically coupled with a primary electrode, supports aprimary actuator, and defines an intermediate guide slot configured toreceive and engage the secondary actuator. An outer housing has a firstend facing toward the reference point and is configured to slidably androtatably receive the primary electrode slider. The outer housing alsoincludes a first guide slot configured to receive and engage the primaryactuator and a second guide slot configured to receive the secondaryactuator when the secondary actuator is positioned under the secondguide slot.

In a further illustrative embodiment, a method of moving electrodes intopositions for ablative electrical treatment of tissue at a referencepoint includes extending a sheath, wherein the sheath contains a primaryelectrode and a secondary electrode slidably received within the primaryelectrode. An apparatus coupled with the primary electrode and thesecondary electrode is deployed, wherein the apparatus includes asecondary electrode slider mechanically coupled with a secondaryelectrode and supporting a secondary actuator. The apparatus includes aprimary electrode slider that is mechanically coupled with a primaryelectrode, supports a primary actuator, and defines an intermediateguide slot configured to receive and engage the secondary actuator. Theapparatus also includes an outer housing having a first end, wherein theouter housing defines a first guide slot configured to receive andengage the primary actuator and a second guide slot configured toreceive the secondary actuator when the secondary actuator is positionedunder the second guide slot. The primary actuator is moved toward thefront end of the outer housing to position the primary electrode at afirst location relative to the reference point. The outer housing isrotated to expose the intermediate guide slot beneath the second guideslot. The secondary actuator is moved toward the first end of the outerhousing to position the secondary electrode at a second locationrelative to the reference point.

In an additional illustrative embodiment, an apparatus is provided forslidably moving multiple features relative to a sheath inserted into abody and positioned relative to a reference point. A lock rod isconfigured to be fixed in a position relative to a reference point. Aprimary housing is mechanically coupled with a primary electrode. Theprimary housing further includes an outward-facing guide slot configuredto selectively limit and enable sliding movement of a guide member. Theprimary housing also includes a primary lock channel configured torotatably receive the lock rod to prevent sliding movement of theprimary housing relative to the lock rod. A secondary housing ismechanically coupled with a secondary electrode. The secondary housingfurther includes an inner channel configured to slidably and rotatablyreceive the primary housing and supporting the guide member. Thesecondary housing also includes a secondary lock channel configured toselectively one of fixably engage and slidably engage the lock rod.Rotation of the secondary housing selectively moves the lock rod in andout of the primary lock channel and within the secondary lock channel toselectively allow and prevent sliding movement relative to the lock rodof at least one of the primary housing and the secondary housing.

In another illustrative embodiment, a system for treating tissue at areference point includes an electrical power source configured toselectively provide electrical power to a primary electrode and asecondary electrode between a first pole and a second pole. A lock rodis configured to be fixed in a position relative to a reference point. Asheath actuator is configured to move a sheath that houses the primaryelectrode and the secondary electrode relative to a reference point andto set a position of the lock rod relative to the reference point. Asheath lock is configured to selectively lock a position of the sheathand the lock rod. A primary housing is mechanically coupled with theprimary electrode. The primary housing further includes anoutward-facing guide slot configured to selectively limit and enablesliding movement of a guide member. The primary housing also includes aprimary lock channel configured to rotatably receive the lock rod toprevent sliding movement of the primary housing relative to the lockrod. A secondary housing is mechanically coupled with the secondaryelectrode. The secondary housing further includes an inner channelconfigured to slidably and rotatably receive the primary housing andsupporting the guide member. The secondary housing also includes asecondary lock channel configured to selectively one of fixably engageand slidably engage the lock rod. Rotation of the secondary housingselectively moves the lock rod in and out of the primary lock channeland within the secondary lock channel to selectively allow and preventsliding movement relative to the lock rod of at least one of the primaryhousing and the secondary housing.

In a further illustrative embodiment, a method is provided for using anapparatus to move electrodes into positions for ablative electricaltreatment of tissue at a reference point. A sheath is extended, whereinthe sheath contains a primary electrode and a secondary electrodeslidably received within the primary electrode. An apparatus coupledwith the primary electrode and the secondary electrode is deployed. Theapparatus includes a lock rod configured to be fixed in a positionrelative to a reference point. The apparatus also includes a primaryhousing is mechanically coupled with a primary electrode. The primaryhousing further includes an outward-facing guide slot configured toselectively limit and enable sliding movement of a guide member. Theprimary housing also includes a primary lock channel configured torotatably receive the lock rod to prevent sliding movement of theprimary housing relative to the lock rod. The apparatus also includes asecondary housing mechanically coupled with a secondary electrode. Thesecondary housing further includes an inner channel configured toslidably and rotatably receive the primary housing and supporting theguide member. The secondary housing also includes a secondary lockchannel configured to selectively one of fixably engage and slidablyengage the lock rod. The secondary housing is successively slide androtated to move the secondary housing and the primary housing to movethe primary electrode and the secondary electrode to positions relativeto the reference point, and the primary housing is slide to move theprimary electrode.

In another illustrative embodiment, an apparatus for slidably movingmultiple features relative to a sheath insertable into a body andpositionable relative to a reference point includes a primary actuatorconfigured to move a primary electrode to a first position. A secondaryactuator is configured to move a secondary electrode to a secondposition. A shrouding device is configured to selectively prevent accessto the secondary actuator until the primary actuator has beenmanipulated to extend the primary electrode to the first position.

In a further illustrative embodiment, a system for treating tissue at areference point includes a controllable electrical power sourceconfigured to selectively provide electrical power between a first poleand a second pole. An electrosurgical apparatus is configured to beinserted into a body to convey a sheath that houses a primary electrodeelectrically coupled to the first pole of the electrical power sourceand a secondary electrode electrically coupled to the second pole of theelectrical power source to a vicinity of a reference point. Theapparatus also includes an electrode control apparatus that includes aprimary actuator configured to move a primary electrode to a firstposition. A secondary actuator is configured to move a secondaryelectrode to a second position. A shrouding device is configured toselectively prevent access to the secondary actuator until the primaryactuator has been manipulated to extend the primary electrode to thefirst position.

In an additional illustrative embodiment, a method of preparingelectrodes for ablative electrical treatment of tissue at a referencepoint includes extending a sheath containing a primary electrode and asecondary electrode, where the secondary electrode is contained withinthe primary electrode and initially is coupled to move with the primaryelectrode. A primary actuator configured to move the primary electrodeis moved to a first location near a reference point. The primaryactuator is moved to move a shrouding device to permit access to asecondary actuator configured to move the secondary electrode. Thesecondary actuator is moved to move the second electrode to a secondlocation near the reference point.

In another illustrative embodiment, an apparatus for slidably movingmultiple features relative to a sheath insertable into a body andpositionable relative to a reference point includes a shaft configuredto enable slidable passage of a primary electrode and a secondaryelectrode therethrough. A primary actuator is coupled with the primaryelectrode and configured to slidably move over the shaft to move theprimary electrode to a first position near a reference point. Asecondary actuator is coupled with the secondary electrode andconfigured to slidably move over the shaft to move the secondaryelectrode to a second position. A shroud device is incorporated in theprimary actuator and is configured to at least partially prevent accessto the secondary actuator. The primary actuator is configured toslidably and rotatably move relative to the shaft, and, after theprimary actuator has been moved to slidably move the primary electrodeto the first position, the primary actuator is further configured to berotated to move the shroud device to permit access to the secondaryactuator.

In a further illustrative embodiment, a system for treating tissue at areference point includes a controllable electrical power sourceconfigured to selectively provide electrical power between a first poleand a second pole. An electrosurgical apparatus is configured to beinserted into a body to convey a sheath that houses a primary electrodeelectrically coupled to the first pole of the electrical power sourceand a secondary electrode electrically coupled to the second pole of theelectrical power source to a vicinity of a reference point. The systemalso includes an electrode control apparatus that includes a shaftconfigured to enable slidable passage of a primary electrode and asecondary electrode therethrough. A primary actuator is coupled with theprimary electrode and configured to slidably move over the shaft to movethe primary electrode to a first position near a reference point. Asecondary actuator is coupled with the secondary electrode andconfigured to slidably move over the shaft to move the secondaryelectrode to a second position. A shroud device is incorporated in theprimary actuator and is configured to at least partially prevent accessto the secondary actuator. The primary actuator is configured toslidably and rotatably move relative to the shaft, and, after theprimary actuator has been moved to slidably move the primary electrodeto the first position, the primary actuator is further configured to berotated to move the shroud device to permit access to the secondaryactuator.

In an additional illustrative embodiment, a method of preparingelectrodes for ablative electrical treatment of tissue at a referencepoint includes extending a sheath containing a primary electrode and asecondary electrode, where the secondary electrode is contained withinthe primary electrode and is initially coupled to move with the primaryelectrode. A primary actuator coupled with the primary electrode ismoved to move the primary electrode to a first location near a referencepoint. The primary actuator is rotated to expose a secondary actuatorthat was previously at least partially covered by the primary actuatorand coupled with the secondary electrode to permit access to a secondaryactuator configured to move the secondary electrode. The secondaryactuator is moved to move the second electrode to a second location nearthe reference point.

In another illustrative embodiment, an apparatus for slidably movingmultiple features relative to a sheath insertable into a body andpositionable relative to a reference point includes a primary actuatorconfigured to move a primary electrode to a first position when aprimary actuator grip is slidably moved toward a first end. A secondaryactuator is configured to move a secondary electrode to a secondposition when a secondary actuator grip is slidably moved toward thefirst end. An outer handle is configured to selectively prevent accessto the secondary actuator grip of the secondary actuator until theprimary actuator has been manipulated to extend the primary electrode tothe first position and rotated relative to the primary actuator toexpose the secondary actuator.

In a further illustrative embodiment, a system for treating tissue at areference point includes a controllable electrical power sourceconfigured to selectively provide electrical power between a first poleand a second pole. An electrosurgical apparatus is configured to beinserted into a body to convey a sheath that houses a primary electrodeelectrically coupled to the first pole of the electrical power sourceand a secondary electrode electrically coupled to the second pole of theelectrical power source to a vicinity of a reference point. The systemalso includes an electrode control apparatus that includes a primaryactuator configured to move a primary electrode to a first position whena primary actuator grip is slidably moved toward a first end. Asecondary actuator is configured to move a secondary electrode to asecond position when a secondary actuator grip is slidably moved towardthe first end. An outer handle is configured to selectively preventaccess to the secondary actuator grip of the secondary actuator untilthe primary actuator has been manipulated to extend the primaryelectrode to the first position and rotated relative to the primaryactuator to expose the secondary actuator grip.

In an additional illustrative embodiment, a method of preparingelectrodes for ablative electrical treatment of tissue at a referencepoint includes extending a sheath that houses a primary electrode and asecondary electrode, where the secondary electrode is contained withinthe primary electrode and initially coupled to move with the primaryelectrode. A primary actuator grip is slid within a channel defined inan outer handle to move a primary actuator to move the primary electrodeto a first location near a reference point. The primary actuator grip isrotated to expose a secondary actuator grip within the channel to enablemovement of a secondary actuator configured to move the secondaryelectrode. The secondary actuator grip is moved within the channel tomove the second electrode to a second location near the reference point.

Further features, advantages, and areas of applicability will becomeapparent from the description provided herein. It should be understoodthat the description and specific examples are intended for purposes ofillustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the presentdisclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and arenot intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, withemphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of thedisclosed embodiments. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram in partial schematic form of an illustrativesystem for treating tissue;

FIGS. 2-6 are schematic diagrams of positioning of distal ends of asheath, primary electrode, and secondary electrode relative to areference point;

FIGS. 7A and 8A are schematic diagrams of a sheath actuator forpositioning a sheath relative to a reference point;

FIGS. 7B and 8B are schematic diagrams of positioning of distal ends ofthe sheath, a primary electrode, and a secondary electrode relative to areference point corresponding to positions of the sheath actuator ofFIGS. 7A and 8A, respectively;

FIG. 9 is a side view of an illustrative sheath actuator and a sheathlock;

FIG. 10 is a cutaway view of the sheath actuator and sheath lock of FIG.9 ;

FIGS. 11, 12A, 13A, 14A, 18A, 19A, 20A, 32A, 33A, and 34A are side viewsof an embodiment of a user interface for positioning multiple componentsrelative to the reference point;

FIGS. 12B, 13B, 14B, 18B, 19B, 20B, 32B, 33B, and 34B are schematicdiagrams of positioning of distal ends of a sheath, primary electrode,and secondary electrode relative to a reference point corresponding topositions of the components of the user interface of FIGS. 12A, 13A,14A, 18A, 19A, 20A, 32A, 33A, and 34A, respectively;

FIGS. 15-17 are cutaway views of the primary actuator and the primaryrelease of the user interface of FIG. 11 ;

FIGS. 21 and 22 are cutaway views of the secondary actuator and thesecondary release of the user interface of FIG. 11 ;

FIG. 23 is a partial bottom view of the user interface of FIG. 11showing the actuator interlock in a first position;

FIG. 24 is another partial bottom view of the user interface of FIG. 11showing the actuator interlock in the first position corresponding tothe position of the actuator interlock of FIG. 23 ;

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of the user interface of FIG. 11showing the actuator interlock in the first position corresponding tothe position of the actuator interlock of FIGS. 23 and 24 ;

FIG. 26 is a partial bottom view of the user interface of FIG. 11showing the actuator interlock in a second position;

FIG. 27 is another partial bottom view of the user interface of FIG. 11showing the actuator interlock in the second position corresponding tothe position of the actuator interlock of FIG. 26 ;

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of the user interface of FIG. 11showing the actuator interlock in the second position corresponding tothe position of the actuator interlock of FIGS. 26 and 27 ;

FIG. 29 is a partial cutaway side view of the user interface of FIG. 11illustrating the actuator interlock in a second position to enable useof the primary release;

FIG. 30 is a partial cutaway perspective view of the user interface ofFIG. 11 illustrating the actuator interlock in the second position toenable use of the primary release;

FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view of the user interface of FIG. 11showing the actuator interlock in the second position corresponding tothe position of the actuator interlock of FIG. 30 to enable use of theprimary release;

FIG. 35 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a user interfacefor positioning multiple components relative to the reference point;

FIG. 36 is an exploded view of the user interface of FIG. 35 ;

FIGS. 37A and 38A are perspective views of the user interface of FIG. 35for positioning multiple components relative to the reference point;

FIGS. 37B and 38B are schematic diagrams of positioning of distal endsof a sheath, primary electrode, and secondary electrode relative to thereference point corresponding to positions of the primary release and ahousing of the user interface of FIGS. 37A and 38A, respectively;

FIG. 39 is an exploded view of the latch and the interlock lever of theuser interface of FIG. 35 ;

FIGS. 40-42 are partial perspective views of the user interface of FIG.35 illustrating positions of the interlock lever of the user interfaceof FIG. 35 ;

FIGS. 43A, 44A, 45A, 46A, and 47A are partial top views of the userinterface of FIG. 35 ;

FIGS. 43B, 44B, 45B, 46B, and 47B are partial side views of the userinterface of FIG. 35 corresponding with the partial top views of FIGS.43A, 44A, 45A, 46A, and 47A, respectively;

FIGS. 43C, 44C, 45C, 46C, and 47C are schematic diagrams of positioningof distal ends of the sheath, primary electrode, and secondary electroderelative to the reference point corresponding to positions of the userinterface shown in FIGS. 43A-43B, 44A-44B, 45A-45B, 46A-46B, and47A-47B, respectively;

FIG. 48 is a side view of another embodiment of a user interface forpositioning multiple components relative to a reference point;

FIG. 49 is an exploded view of the user interface of FIG. 48 ;

FIGS. 50A and 51A are side views of the user interface of FIG. 48 beingmanipulated to position a sheath;

FIGS. 50B and 51B are schematic diagrams of positioning of distal endsof the sheath, primary electrode, and secondary electrode relative to areference point corresponding to positions of the sheath actuator ofFIGS. 50A and 51A, respectively;

FIGS. 52A, 53A, 54A, 55A, 56A, and 57A are side views of the userinterface of FIG. 48 being used to position electrodes within a body;

FIGS. 52B, 53B, 54B, 55B, 56B, and 57B are cross-sectional views of theuser interface of FIG. 48 corresponding with the side views of FIGS.52A, 53A, 54A, 55A, 56A, and 57A, respectively;

FIGS. 52C, 53C, 54C, 55C, 56C, and 57C are schematic diagrams ofpositioning of distal ends of the sheath, primary electrode, andsecondary electrode relative to the reference point corresponding topositions of the user interface shown in FIGS. 52A-52B, 53A-53B,54A-54B, 55A-55B, 56A-56B, and 57A-57B, respectively;

FIG. 58 is a side view of another embodiment of a user interface forpositioning multiple components relative to a reference point;

FIG. 59 is a partial cutaway view of the user interface of FIG. 58 ;

FIGS. 60A and 61A are side views of the user interface of FIG. 58 beingmanipulated to position a sheath;

FIGS. 60B and 61B are schematic diagrams of positioning of distal endsof the sheath, primary electrode, and secondary electrode relative to areference point corresponding to positions of the sheath actuator ofFIGS. 60A and 61A, respectively;

FIG. 62 is a side view of a lock rod of the user interface of FIG. 58 ;

FIG. 63A is a side view of a primary housing of the user interface ofFIG. 58 ;

FIG. 63B is a bottom view of the primary housing of the user interfaceof FIG. 58 ;

FIGS. 63C and 63D are cross-sectional views of the primary housing ofthe user interface of FIG. 58 ;

FIG. 64A is a side view of the secondary housing of the user interfaceof FIG. 58 ;

FIGS. 64B and 64C are cross-sectional views of the secondary housing ofthe user interface of FIG. 58 ;

FIGS. 65A, 66A, 67A, 68A, 69A, and 70A are partial cutaway side views ofthe user interface of FIG. 58 being used to position electrodes within abody;

FIGS. 65B-65C, 66B-66C, 67B-67C, 68B-68C, 69B-69C, and 70B-70C arecross-sectional views of the user interface of FIG. 58 correspondingwith the partial cutaway side views of FIGS. 65A, 66A, 67A, 68A, 69A,and 70A, respectively;

FIGS. 65D, 66D, 67D, 68D, 69D, and 70D are schematic diagrams ofpositioning of distal ends of the sheath, primary electrode, andsecondary electrode relative to the reference point corresponding topositions of the user interface shown in FIGS. 65A-65C, 66A-66C,67A-67C, 68A-68C, 69A-69C, and 70A-70C, respectively;

FIGS. 71A, 72A, 73A, 74A, 75A, and 76A are side views of the userinterface of FIG. 58 being manipulated to position multiple componentsrelative to a reference point;

FIGS. 71B, 72B, 73B, 74B, 75B, and 76B are schematic diagrams ofpositioning of distal ends of the sheath, primary electrode, andsecondary electrode relative to the reference point corresponding topositions of the user interface shown in FIGS. 71A, 72A, 73A, 74A, 75A,and 76A, respectively;

FIGS. 77-81 are flow diagrams of illustrative methods of positioningcomponents using a user interface;

FIG. 82 is a side view of another embodiment of a user interface forpositioning multiple components relative to a reference point;

FIG. 83 is an exploded view of the user interface of FIG. 82 ;

FIG. 84A is a side view of an outer housing of the user interface ofFIG. 82 ;

FIGS. 84B and 84C are cross-sectional views of the outer housing of theuser interface of FIG. 82 ;

FIG. 85A is a side view of a shaft of the user interface of FIG. 82 ;

FIG. 85B is a cross-sectional view of a base of the shaft of the userinterface of FIG. 82 ;

FIGS. 86A and 86B are side views of a primary actuator of the userinterface of FIG. 82 ;

FIG. 86C is a cross-sectional view of the primary actuator of the userinterface of FIG. 82 ;

FIGS. 87A and 87B are side views of the secondary actuator of the userinterface of FIG. 82 ;

FIGS. 87C and 87D are cross-sectional views of the secondary actuator ofthe user interface of FIG. 82 ;

FIGS. 88A, 89A, 90A, 91A, 92A, and 93A are side views of the userinterface of FIG. 82 being manipulated to position electrodes within abody;

FIGS. 88B, 89B, 90B, 91B, 92B, and 93B are schematic diagrams ofpositioning of distal ends of the sheath, primary electrode, andsecondary electrode relative to a reference point corresponding topositions of the user interface of FIGS. 88A, 89A, 90A, 91A, 92A, and93A, respectively;

FIG. 94 is a side view of another embodiment of a user interface forpositioning multiple components relative to a reference point;

FIG. 95 is an exploded view of the user interface of FIG. 94 ;

FIGS. 96A and 97A are side views of the user interface of FIG. 94 beingmanipulated to position a sheath;

FIGS. 96B and 97B are schematic diagrams of positioning of distal endsof the sheath, primary electrode, and secondary electrode relative to areference point corresponding to positions of the sheath actuator ofFIGS. 96A and 97A, respectively;

FIGS. 98A, 99A, 100A, and 101A are side views of the user interface ofFIG. 94 being manipulated to position electrodes within a body;

FIGS. 98B, 99B, 100B, and 101B are cross-sectional views of the userinterface of FIG. 94 being manipulated to position electrodes within abody corresponding with positions of the user interface of FIGS. 98A,99A, 100A, and 101A, respectively;

FIGS. 98C, 99C, 100C, and 101C are schematic diagrams of positioning ofdistal ends of the sheath, primary electrode, and secondary electroderelative to a reference point corresponding to positions of the userinterface of FIGS. 98A, 99A, 100A, and 101A, respectively;

FIG. 102 is a side view of another embodiment of a user interface forpositioning multiple components relative to a reference point;

FIG. 103 is an exploded view of the user interface of FIG. 102 ;

FIGS. 104A, 105A, 106A, 107A, and 108A are side views of the userinterface of FIG. 102 being manipulated to position electrodes within abody;

FIGS. 104B, 105B, 106B, 107B, and 108B are cross-sectional views of theuser interface of FIG. 102 being manipulated to position electrodeswithin a body corresponding with positions of the user interface ofFIGS. 104A, 105A, 106A, 107A, and 108A, respectively;

FIGS. 104C, 105C, 106C, 107C, and 108C are schematic diagrams ofpositioning of distal ends of the sheath, primary electrode, andsecondary electrode relative to a reference point corresponding topositions of the user interface of FIGS. 104A, 105A, 106A, 107A, and108A, respectively;

FIG. 109 is a side view of another embodiment of a user interface forpositioning multiple components relative to a reference point;

FIG. 110 is an enlarged partial cutaway view of a primary actuator gripof the user interface of FIG. 109 ;

FIG. 111 is an exploded view of the user interface of FIG. 109 ;

FIGS. 112A, 113A, and 114A are side views of the user interface of FIG.109 being manipulated to position a sheath;

FIGS. 112B, 113B, and 114B are schematic diagrams of positioning ofdistal ends of the sheath, primary electrode, and secondary electroderelative to a reference point corresponding to positions of the sheathactuator of FIGS. 112A, 113A, and 114A, respectively;

FIG. 115 is a side view of another embodiment of a user interface forpositioning multiple components relative to a reference point;

FIG. 116 is an exploded view of the user interface of FIG. 115 ;

FIGS. 117A and 118A are side views of the user interface of FIG. 94being manipulated to position a sheath;

FIGS. 117B and 118B are schematic diagrams of positioning of distal endsof the sheath, primary electrode, and secondary electrode relative to areference point corresponding to positions of the sheath actuator ofFIGS. 117A and 118A, respectively;

FIGS. 119A, 120A, 121A, 122A, and 123A are side views of the userinterface of FIG. 115 being manipulated to position electrodes within abody;

FIGS. 119B, 120B, 121B, 122B, and 123B are cross-sectional views of theuser interface of FIG. 115 being manipulated to position electrodeswithin a body corresponding with positions of the user interface ofFIGS. 119A, 120A, 121A, 122A, and 123A, respectively;

FIGS. 119C, 120C, 121C, 122C, and 123C are schematic diagrams ofpositioning of distal ends of the sheath, primary electrode, andsecondary electrode relative to a reference point corresponding topositions of the user interface of FIGS. 119A, 120A, 121A, 122A, and123A, respectively; and

FIGS. 124-126 are flow diagrams of illustrative methods of positioningcomponents using a user interface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely illustrative in nature and is notintended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It willbe noted that the first digit of three-digit reference numbers, thefirst two digits of four-digit reference numbers correspond to the firstdigit of one-digit figure numbers and the first two-digits of the figurenumbers, respectively, in which the element first appears.

The following description explains, by way of illustration only and notof limitation, various embodiments of user interfaces to positionelectrodes for electrosurgical apparatuses, as well as systems includingsuch user interfaces and methods of using the same. As will be describedin detail below, electrosurgical techniques position first and secondelectrodes adjacent a reference point where electrical treatment, suchas ablative treatment, is to be applied. For a specific example, theuser interfaces and methods of their use may be used for ablating and/orcoagulating tissue, removing lesions, and for performing other medicalprocedures within the lung.

It will be appreciated that various embodiments of user interfacesdescribed herein may help to simplify the process of positioning theelectrodes and holding the electrodes in place. As will be describedbelow, various embodiments of the user interface accomplish theselective positioning and locking in place of the electrodes bydepressing releases and sliding levers, rotating and sliding a housing,or combinations of sliding levers and rotating housings.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a system 100 is provided for treating tissue at areference point in an anatomical region of a patient (not shown in FIG.1 ). The system 100 may be a bipolar or monopolar radio frequency (RF)system, as desired, for treating tissue in a patient. Specifically, thesystem 100 may be employed for coagulation and/or ablation of softtissue during percutaneous and/or endoscopic, including bronchoscopic,surgical procedures, such as, for example, partial and/or completeablation of cancerous and/or noncancerous organ lesions. As will befurther described, the tissue is treated by positioning one or moreelectrodes proximate the tissue to be treated and passing an electricalcurrent through the tissue at a reference point.

In some embodiments, the system 100 includes a user interface 101, anelectrosurgical radio frequency (RF) generator operating as a switchablecurrent source 114, an infusion pump 116, and an electrosurgicalinstrument or apparatus, such as without limitation a bronchoscope 118.It will be appreciated that the electrosurgical instrument or apparatusmay also include an endoscope or any other electrosurgical instrument asdesired for a particular application. The bronchoscope 118 may beconfigured to receive the user interface 101 at a port 148 to enable theuser interface 101 to manipulate electrodes at the reference point viathe bronchoscope 118.

The user interface 101 electrically communicates with the switchablecurrent source 114 though an electrical conductor 130. In someembodiments, the electrical conductor 130 is connected to an outlet 131when the system is operated in a bipolar mode. The electrical conductor130 may be coupled with the outlet 131 using an electrical connector 134configured to electrically engage the outlet 131. In some otherembodiments, the system 100 can be operated in a monopolar mode when theelectrical conductor 130 is connected to a secondary outlet 133 with anadapter (not shown in FIG. 1 ) as desired. The user interface 101 isfurther connected to the infusion pump 116 with a tube 132 thatfacilitates the flow of liquid, for example saline solution, from theinfusion pump 116 to the user interface 101.

The switchable current source 114 can be operated with the use of a footoperated unit 120 electrically connected to the switchable currentsource 114. The foot operated unit 120 includes a pedal 122 thatinstructs the switchable current source 114 to apply an electricalcurrent to electrode(s) (described below) to cut and/or ablate tissueand a pedal 124 that instructs the generator 114 to apply a lowerelectrical current to the electrode(s) to coagulate tissue.

In various embodiments the bronchoscope 118 includes an insertion tube119 that permits insertion of a sheath 103 into a body (not shown). Adistal end 105 of the sheath 103 is delivered to a location near thetissue to be treated at the reference point. The sheath 103 contains andconveys the electrodes (not shown) to a desired treatment location.Positioning of the distal end 105 of the sheath 103 and the distal endsof the electrodes (not shown in FIG. 1 ) may be controlled by the userinterface 101 received by the bronchoscope 118 at a port 148.

Referring to FIGS. 2-6 , distal ends of components are positionedrelative to a reference point 201 using various embodiments of a userinterface. The reference point 201, for example, may be at a pointwithin a target tissue 202 such as a lesion or any portion of tissue tobe treated within a body. Given by way of illustration only and not oflimitation, the illustrative embodiments of the user interface describedbelow all are capable of positioning the components as described withreference to FIGS. 2-6 , as further described with reference to each ofthe described embodiments. The description of FIGS. 2-6 is provided as abaseline to describe the operation of the various embodiments of theuser interface.

In particular embodiments, a secondary electrode 211 is slidablyreceived within a primary electrode 207, and the primary electrode 207is slidably received within a sheath 203. In particular embodiments,until a user interface is manipulated to separately move the primaryelectrode 207 and/or the secondary electrode 211, the primary electrode207 and the secondary electrode 211 move in concert with the sheath 203,which means that the electrodes 207 and 211 move at a same time andthrough a same distance as the sheath 203. As will be described below,in some instances, the secondary electrode 211 also may move in concertwith the primary electrode 209 while both electrodes move independentlyof the sheath 103. Components contained within other components arerepresented with dashed lines in FIGS. 2-6 .

Referring to FIG. 2 , the sheath 203, the primary electrode 207, and thesecondary electrode 211 are shown as they are positioned at an initialposition relative to the reference point 201 at or near the targettissue 202. More particularly, FIG. 2 shows the components as they mightbe positioned upon the insertion of the sheath 203 through an insertiontube in a bronchoscope, such as the insertion tube 119 and thebronchoscope 118 of FIG. 1 , before they are moved into preciselydesired locations by manipulating the user interface (not shown) asfurther described below.

A distal end 205 of the sheath 203 is positioned close to the targettissue 202. The primary electrode 207 is slidably received within thesheath 203, with a distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207 at ornear the distal end 205 of the sheath. Specifically, FIG. 2 , forexample, shows the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207positioned just short of the distal end 205 of the sheath 203. In turn,the secondary electrode 211 is slidably received within the primaryelectrode 207, with the distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211positioned just within the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207.

Referring to FIG. 3 , the sheath 203, the primary electrode 207, and thesecondary electrode 211 are shown as they are positioned once the sheath203 has been moved closer to the reference point 201. As contrasted withFIG. 2 , in FIG. 3 , a distal end 205 of the sheath 203 has been movedcloser to the reference point 201 at the edge of the target tissue 202.Just as in FIG. 2 , because the primary electrode 207 and the secondaryelectrode 211 have not been separately moved through the manipulation ofa user interface (not shown), the primary electrode 207 and thesecondary electrode 211 have moved with the movement of the sheath 203.Thus, at the deployment position closer to the reference point 201, thedistal end 209 of the primary electrode 207 remains positioned justshort of the distal end 205 of the sheath 203. Similarly, the distal end213 of the secondary electrode 211 remains positioned just within thedistal end 209 of the primary electrode 207. As will be furtherdescribed with reference to embodiments of a sheath lock that may bepart of a user interface or used in conjunction with a user interface,once the distal end 205 of the sheath 203 has been moved to a desiredlocation, the sheath 203 may be locked in place.

Referring to FIG. 4 , the sheath 203, the primary electrode 207, and thesecondary electrode 211 are shown as they are positioned once theprimary electrode 207 has been extended from the sheath 203 toward thereference point 201 and into the target tissue 202. In particularembodiments, unless the user interface (not shown) is manipulated todisengage movement of the secondary electrode 211 from movement of theprimary electrode 207, the secondary electrode 211 moves in concert withthe primary electrode 207, with the secondary electrode 211 moving inthe same direction and the same distance as the primary electrode 207.Thus, as shown in FIG. 4 , the primary electrode 207 as the primaryelectrode 207 is extended beyond the distal end 105 of the sheath 103,and the secondary electrode 211 moves in concert with the primaryelectrode 207. As shown in FIG. 4 , the distal end 209 of the primaryelectrode 207 is extended toward the reference point 201 and beyond thedistal end 205 of the sheath 203. The distal end 213 of the secondaryelectrode 211 remains positioned just within the distal end 209 of theprimary electrode 207. In particular embodiments, the primary electrode207 is in the form of a needle, with the distal end 209 being configuredto pierce tissue, such as the target tissue 202, to enable the distalend 209 of the primary electrode 207 to reach a desired position, and tobe able to situate the secondary electrode 211 at a desired point.

As will be further described below, once the distal end 205 of thesheath 203 is in a desired location and locked in place, embodiments ofthe user interface allow the primary electrode 207 to be unlocked sothat the primary electrode 207 may be moved independently of the sheath103. As also further described below, embodiments of the user interfacemay keep motion of the secondary electrode 211 locked with motion of theprimary electrode 207 so that the distal end 213 of the secondaryelectrode 211 moves in concert with the distal end 209 of the primaryelectrode 207. As also further described below, embodiments of a userinterface permit one or both of the primary electrode 207 and thesecondary electrode 211 to be fixed in position—that is, remain inplace—so that one or both of the electrodes 207 and 211 are secured at acurrent position. Thus, for example, a position of the primary electrode207 may be fixed while the secondary electrode 211 may be movedindependently of the primary electrode 207, or a position of thesecondary electrode 211 may be fixed while the primary electrode 207 maybe moved independently of the secondary electrode 211. Also, bothelectrodes 207 and 211 may be fixed in place, for example, whentreatment is administered by applying an electrical current using anelectrosurgical apparatus such as that shown in the system 100 of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 5 , the sheath 203, the primary electrode 207, and thesecondary electrode 211 are shown as they are positioned once thesecondary electrode 211 has been extended from the primary electrode207. A distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 is deployed at aposition on an opposite side of the reference point 201 and at anopposite side of the target tissue 202 from the primary electrode 207.In particular embodiments, the secondary electrode 211 is configured ascoiled wire which is received within the primary electrode 207 in astraightened form. Once the user interface is manipulated toindependently extend the secondary electrode 211 from the primaryelectrode 207, the secondary electrode 211 coils. As a result, thedistal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 corkscrews into tissue,such as the target tissue 202. The corkscrewing of the distal end 213 ofthe secondary electrode 211 may assist in securing the position of thedistal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 during treatment. FIG. 5also shows insulation 215 along a length of the secondary electrode 211,but which stops short of the distal end 213 of the secondary electrode211. The insulation 215 electrically insulates the secondary electrode211 from the primary electrode 207 such that, when electrical current isapplied to proximal ends (not shown) of the primary electrode 207 andthe secondary electrode 211, the electrical current may only flowbetween the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207 and theuninsulated distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211.

Referring to FIG. 6 , the sheath 303, the primary electrode 207, and thesecondary electrode 511 are shown as they are positioned once theprimary electrode 207 is partially retracted away from the referencepoint 201 and partially retracted from the target tissue 202 and intothe sheath 503. As previously described, a needle shape of the primaryelectrode 207 assists in positioning the distal end 213 of the secondaryelectrode 211 at a desired location. Once the distal end 213 of thesecondary electrode 211 has been disposed at that location, however, itmay be desired to move a distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207away from the reference point 201 to create a desirable gap between thedistal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 and the distal end 209 ofthe primary electrode 207 across which electrical current may be appliedto treat the target tissue 202 near the reference point 201. As will bedescribed further below, once the distal end 213 of the secondaryelectrode 211 has been secured at a desirable location, embodiments ofthe user interface (not shown in FIG. 6 ) permit the primary electrode207 to be unlocked and moved independently from the secondary electrode211 to enable the partial retraction shown in FIG. 6 . Once partiallyretracted, embodiments of the user interface also enable the primaryelectrode 207 to be locked in place.

Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, an apparatus 700 includes an illustrativeuser interface 701 received at a port 748 of an electrosurgicalapparatus 718, such as a bronchoscope or another minimally invasivedevice used for performing diagnostic or therapeutic tasks by extendinga sheath or catheter into a body (not shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B). In theapparatus 700 of FIG. 7A, the user interface 701 includes a sheathactuator 704 and a sheath lock 706 configured to move the sheath 103 toa desired location to position a distal end 105 of the sheath 103relative to the reference point 201. In some embodiments, the sheathactuator 704 may be a slidable mechanism incorporating a slidable sleeve712 that is received within a collar 714. The slidable sleeve 712 may belocked in position at the collar 714 by the sheath lock 706. The sheathlock 706 may be a spring-loaded locking pin, a thumbscrew, or anothermechanism configured to mechanically engage the slidable sleeve 712 tosecure the slidable sleeve 712—and, in turn, the sheath 703—in place ata desired location.

In some embodiments, the sheath actuator 704 may be part of the userinterface 701. For example, in the user interface 701 of FIG. 7A theslidable sleeve 712 is fixably engaged with an interface housing 710 ata distal end 716 of the interface housing 710. The collar 714 then mayengage the port 748 on the electrosurgical apparatus 718, where movementof the slidable sleeve 712 within the collar 714 controls movement ofthe sheath 103. In some other embodiments, the sheath actuator 704 may,for example, be part of the electrosurgical apparatus 718. The collar714 may be fixably joined to the port 748. The slidable sleeve 712 maybe associated with the port 748 to engage the distal end 716 of theinterface housing 710. In another embodiment, the slidable sleeve 712may be fixably joined to the distal end 716 of the interface housing 710and be configured to receivably engage the collar 714 that is fixablyattached to the port 748. Any of these embodiments of the sheathactuator 704 may facilitate movement of the sheath 103 as describedbelow.

In various embodiments the user interface 701 is mechanically coupledwith a primary electrode 207 slidably received within the sheath 103,with a distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207 positioned just shortof the distal end 105 of the sheath 103. The user interface 701 is alsomechanically coupled with a secondary electrode 211 slidably receivedwithin the primary electrode 207, with the distal end 213 of thesecondary electrode 211 positioned just within the distal end 209 of theprimary electrode 207. Embodiments of the user interface 701 may beconfigured to secure the primary electrode 207 and the secondaryelectrode 211 relative to the sheath 103 so that both the primaryelectrode 207 and the secondary electrode 211 move in concert with thesheath 103 as the sheath is moved as described with reference to FIG. 3.

Referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, manipulation of the sheath actuator 704illustrates an example of how the sheath 103 may be unlocked and movedinto position as previously described with reference to FIG. 3 . In theconfiguration shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the sheath actuator 704 has beenmanipulated to enable the sheath 103 to be moved a distance 819 closerto the reference point 201 and the target tissue 202. Specifically, oncethe sheath lock 706 of the sheath actuator 704 is manipulated to enablemovement of the slidable sleeve 712 within the collar 714, the interfacehousing 710 is moved the distance 819 to move the sheath 103 the samedistance 819 toward the reference point 702. Once the sheath 103 hasreached the desired location, the slidable sleeve 712 may be locked inposition at the collar 714 by the sheath lock 706. As will be describedfurther below, embodiments of the user interface 701 maintain thepositions of the primary electrode 207 and the secondary electrode 211relative to the sheath 103 as the sheath actuator 704 is used to movethe sheath 103. Therefore, a distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207and a distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 also are moved bythe distance 219 toward the reference point 201.

Referring to FIG. 9 , an enlarged external view shows an illustrativesheath actuator 704 and a sheath lock 706 in greater detail. The sheathactuator 704 includes a slidable sleeve 712 that is fixably attached toa coupling 920 configured to engage a port (not shown in FIG. 9 ) of anelectrosurgical apparatus (not shown in FIG. 9 ) such as a bronchoscope.The sheath lock 706 in the embodiment of FIG. 9 is a thumbscrew that maybe loosened to permit movement of a collar 714 fixably attached to theinterface housing 710 to move the sheath (not shown in FIG. 9 ) aspreviously described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 . After theinterface housing 710 has been manipulated to slide the collar 714relative to the slidable sleeve 712 to move the sheath to a desiredlocation, the sheath lock 706 is reengaged, such as by turning athumbscrew, to fix the position of the sheath.

Referring to FIG. 10 , a cutaway view of the illustrative sheathactuator 704 shows internal operation of the sheath actuator 704 of FIG.9 . As previously described, the sheath actuator 704 includes theslidable sleeve 712 that is fixably attached to the coupling 920. Insome embodiments the sheath lock 706 is a thumbscrew that may beloosened to permit movement of the collar 714 fixably attached to theinterface housing 710 to move the sheath 103 and, in concert therewith,the primary electrode 207 and the secondary electrode 211 receivedwithin the sheath 103. After the interface housing 710 is manipulated toslide the collar 714 relative to the slidable sleeve 712 to move thesheath 103 to the desired location, the sheath lock 706 is turned to fixthe position of the collar 714 relative to the slidable sleeve 712 tofix the position of the sheath 103.

Referring to FIG. 11 , in some embodiments an illustrative userinterface 1101 is used to position a sheath 1003, a primary electrode,and secondary electrode relative to a reference point (not shown in FIG.11 ). The user interface 1101 includes components that are movedparallel with or transverse to an axis 1121 or rotated about a curve1123 around the axis 1121, as further described below. The userinterface 1101 includes a coupling 1120 and a sheath actuator 1104,including a slidable sleeve 1112 that moves within a collar 1114 fixablyattached to the interface housing 1110 when released by a sheath lock1106 to move the sheath 103, as previously described with reference toFIGS. 9 and 10 . The user interface 1101 also receives leads 1122 thatprovides electrical connections between electrodes and a switchablecurrent source (not shown in FIG. 11 ), as previously described withreference to FIG. 1 . The user interface 1101, as well as otherembodiments of the user interface described throughout this description,also receives a source of saline fluid (not shown) that may be passedthrough the sheath to facilitate the application of electrosurgicaltreatments. Although not expressly shown in subsequent depictions ofother illustrative embodiments of the user interface described withreference to FIGS. 35-75 , it will be appreciated that similar leads maybe used to provide electrical connections between the electrodes and aswitchable current source.

The illustrative user interface 1101 shown in FIG. 11 includes severaluser controls whose operation and effect are described in further detailin the following figures. A primary release 1130 extends from a lowerside 1124 of the housing 1110 and is configured to unlock movement ofthe primary electrode (not shown) that is moved through manipulation ofa primary actuator 1132 extending from an upper side 1126 of the housing1110. The primary actuator 1132 is mechanically coupled with the primaryelectrode (not shown in FIG. 11 ) so that, when the primary actuator1132 moves relative to the housing 1110, the primary electrode movesrelative to the reference point (also not shown in FIG. 11 ). A depthgauge 1190 on the housing 1110 includes an indicator 1192 to indicate aninsertion depth of the primary electrode beyond an end of the sheath(not shown).

electrode moves relative to the reference point (also not shown in FIG.11 ). A depth gauge 1190 on the housing 1110 includes an indicator 1192to indicate an insertion depth of the primary electrode beyond an end ofthe sheath (not shown).

A secondary release 1150 is integrated with a secondary actuator 1152disposed along the upper side 1126 of the housing and is configured tounlock and control movement of the secondary electrode, respectively.The secondary actuator 1152 is fixably coupled with a secondary grip1153 extending from the lower side 1124 of the housing 1110. Thesecondary actuator 1152 is mechanically coupled with the secondaryelectrode (not shown) so that, when the secondary actuator 1152 movesrelative to the housing 1110, the secondary electrode moves relative tothe reference point (not shown in FIG. 11 ).

An actuator interlock 1140 positioned along the lower side 1124 of thehousing 1110 may restrict movement of the secondary electrode relativeto the primary electrode, block use of the primary release 1130, anddecouple the secondary electrode (not shown) from the primary electrode,as further described below. As will be shown below, when both theprimary actuator 1132 and the secondary actuator 1152 move in concert,the actuator interlock 1140 moves in concert with the primary actuator1132 and the secondary actuator. As will be further described below, theprimary release 1130, the actuator interlock 1140, and the secondaryrelease 1150 enable selective movement of the electrodes in concert andindependently to facilitate placement of distal ends of the electrodeswithin a body.

Referring to FIGS. 12A and 12B, in some embodiments the user interface1101 has an initial deployment configuration once a sheath 103 has beendeployed near the reference point 201. As described with reference toFIGS. 7A-10 , a sheath actuator 1104 and sheath lock 1106 have beenpreviously engaged to position a distal end 105 of the sheath 103 at adesired location near the reference point 201, as shown in an insetview. As previously described, a primary electrode 207 is receivedwithin the sheath 103, with the distal end 209 of the primary electrode207 initially positioned just short of the distal end 105 of the sheath103. A secondary electrode 211 is received within the primary electrode207, with the distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 positionedjust short of the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207.

Referring to FIGS. 13A and 13B, in some embodiments of the userinterface 1101, the primary release 1130 is engaged to allow the primaryelectrode 207 to be moved. Specifically, releasing the primary release1130 is accomplished by depressing the primary release 1130 toward thehousing 1110 of the user interface in a direction 1331. Activating theprimary release 1130 does not cause movement of the sheath 103 or theelectrodes 207 or 211 relative to the reference point 201 as shown inthe inset view of FIG. 12B, but only enables movement of the primaryelectrode 207 which, as further described below, may or may not alsomove the secondary electrode 211.

Referring to FIGS. 14A and 14B, the user interface 1101 is shown after aprimary actuator 1132 has been moved a distance 1433. After the primaryactuator 1132 is moved, the primary release 1130 is disengaged to allowthe primary release to move in a direction 1431 away from the housing1110 to resume its original position as shown with reference to FIG.12A. Four actions result from the movement of the primary actuator 1132.First, as shown in the inset of FIG. 14B, movement of the primaryactuator 1132 extends the primary electrode 207 beyond the distal end105 of the sheath 103 and into the target tissue 202, therebypositioning the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207 close to thereference point 201. Second, the secondary electrode 211 moves inconcert with the primary electrode 207, with the distal end 213 of thesecondary electrode 211 continuing to be positioned just short of thedistal end 209 of the secondary electrode 207. Third, the concertedmovement of the primary electrode 207 and the secondary electrode 211 isreflected in movements through the same distance 1433 of the actuatorinterlock 1140, the secondary release 1150, the secondary actuator 1152,and the secondary grip 1153. The primary actuator 1132 and the secondaryactuator 1152 are mechanically linked to enable the concerted movementof the primary electrode 207 and the secondary electrode 211, as furtherdescribed below. Fourth, the indicator 1192 of the depth gauge 1190 alsois mechanically col5upled to the primary actuator 1132. Thus, thedistance 1433 the primary actuator 1132 and the primary electrode 207are moved is shown on the depth gauge 1190 by the indicator 1192.

Referring to FIG. 15 , a primary actuator 1132 and a primary release1130 may be used in embodiments of the user interface described withreference to FIGS. 11-14B, with the primary release 1130 in a lockedposition as shown in FIGS. 12A and 14 . A The primary actuator 1132 ismechanically coupled with a primary electrode slider 1533 that ismechanically coupled with the primary electrode 207 to move the primaryelectrode 207 as previously described with reference to FIGS. 2-6 and12-14 . When the primary release 1130 is in a locked position, a lockmember 1534 that extends through the inside of the primary actuator 1132is urged by a biasing member, such as a spring 1535, to force a lockingpin 1536 into a starting notch 1537 in a locking rack 1538 within ahousing (not shown in FIG. 15 ) of the user interface of FIGS. 11-14 .The locking pin 1536 forcibly engages the starting notch 1537 to preventmovement of the primary actuator 1132, thus also preventing movement ofthe primary electrode slider 1533 and the primary electrode 207. Thus,with the primary release 1130 in the locked position shown in FIG. 15 ,the primary electrode slider 1530 and the primary electrode 207 arelocked at their current positions.

Referring to FIG. 16 , the operation of the primary actuator 1132 and aprimary release 1130 are shown with the primary release 1130 engaged toenable movement of the primary actuator 1132. When a force is applied tothe primary release 1130 to move the primary actuator 1132 in adirection 1631, the primary release 1130 causes the lock member 1534 tomove in the direction 1631, compressing the spring 1535 and moving thelocking pin 1536 out of the starting notch 1537 to enable movement ofthe primary actuator 1132. In other words, pressing the primary release1130 frees the locking pin 1536 from the starting notch 1537 of thelocking rack 1538 to allow the primary actuator 1132 to move the primaryelectrode slider 1533.

Referring to FIG. 17 , the operation of a primary actuator 1132 inmoving the primary electrode slider 1533 and the primary electrode 207is shown while the primary release 1130 remains engaged to enablemovement of the primary actuator 1132. As shown with reference to FIG.16 , enabling release of the locking pin 1536 from the starting notch1537 by the primary actuator 1132 causes the lock member 1534 tocompress the spring 1535 to allow the primary actuator 1132 and, thus,the primary electrode slider 1533 and the primary electrode 207, to movein a direction 1731 relative to the housing 1110. The force applied tothe primary release 1130 continues to cause the lock member 1534 tocompress the spring 1535 and thus allows the locking pin 1536 to moverelative to the locking rack 1538 where, if released in the positionshown in FIG. 17 , the locking pin 1536 would be allowed to engage aselected notch 1739 in the locking rack 1538. It should be noted thatthe primary release 1130 moves in concert with the primary actuator 1132as the primary actuator 1132 is moved relative to the housing 1110.Thus, only the starting notch 1537, the locking rack 1538, and thehousing 1110 remain in the same position in the embodiment of FIG. 17 .

Upon release of the primary release 1130, pressure previously applied bythe lock member 1534 on the spring 1535 is released. As a result, thespring 1535 presses against the lock member 1534 and, in turn, causesthe locking pin 1536 to engage the selected notch 1739 in the lockingrack 1538. Then, similar to the configuration shown in FIG. 15 , theprimary electrode slider 1530 and the primary electrode 207 are thenlocked at a new position relative to the housing 1110 which also wouldmove a distal end (not shown in FIG. 15 ) of the primary electrode 207in a body (also not shown in FIG. 17 ).

Referring to FIGS. 18A and 18B, in some embodiments the primaryelectrode 207 has been deployed with the distal end 209 near thereference point 201 and locked in position as shown in FIG. 14B justbefore the secondary release 1150 is engaged to unlock movement of thesecondary electrode 211. The secondary release 1150 is integrated withthe secondary actuator 1152. Specifically, the secondary release 1150constitutes an end of the secondary actuator 1152 that may be depressedin a direction 1831 that partially rotates the secondary actuator 1152downward toward the interface housing 1110 to disengage the secondaryactuator 1152 from the primary electrode slider (not shown in FIG. 18A).Disengagement of the secondary actuator 1152 permits the secondaryactuator 1152 and a fixably coupled secondary grip 1153 to be movedindependently of the primary actuator 1132 to enable the secondaryelectrode 211 to be moved independently of the primary electrode 207toward the reference point 102. Operation of the secondary release 1152to disengage the secondary actuator 1150 from the primary electrodeslider is further described with reference to FIGS. 21 and 22 .

Referring to FIGS. 19A and 19B, in some embodiments of the userinterface 1101, the secondary release 1150 may be depressed to partiallyrotate the secondary actuator 1152 toward the interface housing 1110 topermit movement of the secondary actuator 1152 independent of theprimary actuator 1132. Although the secondary actuator 1152 is unlockedby depressing the secondary release 1150, the secondary actuator 1152and the associated secondary grip 1153 have not yet been moved. Thus,the distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 has not yet been movedrelative to the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207 toward thereference point 201, as shown in the inset view.

Referring to FIGS. 20A and 20B, the secondary actuator 1152 has beenmoved a distance 2033 to extend the distal end 213 of the secondaryelectrode 211 beyond the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207 andbeyond the reference point 201. The secondary actuator 1152 is fixablyengaged with a secondary grip 1153. Thus, the secondary grip 1153 alsomoves the distance 2033. Fixably engaging the secondary actuator 1152with the secondary grip 1153 enables a user (not shown) to apply moreforce in extending the secondary electrode 211 than may be possible ifthe user only were able to apply force on one side of the interfacehousing 1110 to move the secondary actuator 1152. This may be valuableif, for example, the distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 werebeing forced into tissue (not shown) such that a coiled shape of thedistal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 may corkscrew into thetissue to anchor the distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 inthe tissue. With the secondary actuator 1152 having been moved to extendthe distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211, the secondary release1150 is released to lock the position of the secondary actuator 1152and, thus, to lock the position of the secondary electrode 211.

As the secondary actuator 1152 moves through the distance 2033, theactuator interlock 1140 also moves forward by the distance 2033. Theterm “forward,” as used in this description, describes a directiontoward a coupling 1120 (FIG. 11 ) where the user interface engages aport of an electrosurgical apparatus, such as the port 748 ofbronchoscope 718 of FIGS. 7 and 8 . In the FIGURES to follow, theforward direction consistently is positioned either toward the left-handside of the FIGURE or coming out of the FIGURE. As further describedbelow, the forward travel of the secondary actuator 1152 and thesecondary grip 1153 is arrested when the actuator interlock 1140 abutsthe primary release 1130 (and, thus, the coupled primary actuator 1132)and the secondary grip 1153 (and, thus, the coupled secondary actuator1152). In various embodiments, for example, a pin (not shown) on aforward end of the primary electrode slider 1533 may reach an end of aslot on the actuator interlock 1140 that, in turn, stops the movement ofthe secondary actuator 1152 and the secondary grip 1153. Thus, theactuator interlock 1140 serves to limit the travel of the secondaryactuator 1152 and, thus, a length by which the distal end 213 of thesecondary electrode 211 may be extended beyond the distal end 209 of theprimary electrode 207. A configuration of the actuator interlock 1140and the operation of the actuator interlock is explained with referenceto FIGS. 23-31 .

Referring to FIG. 21 , a secondary release 1150 and a secondary actuator1152 are shown in a locked position. When the secondary release 1150 isin a locked position, the secondary electrode 211 moves in concert withthe primary electrode 207 as previously described with reference toFIGS. 12-17 . As previously described, the secondary release 1150 isintegrated with the secondary actuator 1152 in the embodiment of FIG. 21. The secondary actuator 1152 is rotatably mounted to a secondaryelectrode slider 2151 at a pivot 2155. A spring 2157 maintains thesecondary release 2150 in the locked position when the secondary release1150 is not being depressed. A secondary grip 1153 is fixably coupled tothe secondary electrode slider 2151 and moves (or does not move, as thecase may be) in concert with the secondary actuator 1152. When thesecondary release 1150 is in the locked position, a locking arm 2159engages a locking notch 2139 in the primary electrode slider 1533. Asshown in FIG. 21 , the secondary electrode 211 is in an extendedposition in which the primary actuator 1132 and the secondary actuator1152 no longer move in concert.

Referring to FIG. 22 , a secondary release 1150 and a secondary actuator1152 are shown in an unlocked position. As previously described withreference to FIG. 19 , the secondary release 1150 is unlocked bydepressing the secondary release 1150, thereby causing the secondaryactuator 1152 to deform the spring 2157 and, thus, causing the secondaryactuator 1152 to rotate about the pivot 2155 into an unlocked position.With the secondary actuator 1152 rotated into the unlocked position, thelocking arm 2159 is withdrawn from the locking notch 2139, therebyenabling the secondary actuator 1152 to move. Then, by applying force tothe secondary actuator 1152 and/or the secondary grip 1153, an operator(not shown in FIG. 22 ) can extend a secondary electrode 211independently of the primary electrode 207 as previously described withreference to FIGS. 18-20 .

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure and aspreviously described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 12-14 , it may bedesirable to selectively enable the primary electrode and the secondaryelectrode to move in concert. However, as described with reference toFIG. 6 , once the secondary electrode is deployed, it may be desirableto partially withdraw the primary electrode while maintaining theposition of the secondary electrode. Referring again to FIG. 4 , thedistal end 209 of the primary electrode 207 may be needle-shaped inorder to pierce tissue at or adjacent the reference point 201. Thesecondary electrode 211 is moved in concert with the primary electrode207, thereby positioning the distal end 213 of the secondary electrodecloser to the reference point 201. Referring to FIG. 5 , the piercingcapability provided by this illustrative configuration of the primaryelectrode 207 may be useful to deploy the distal end 213 of thesecondary electrode 211 at a desired location relative to the referencepoint 201.

However, once the position of the primary electrode 207 has beenexploited to deploy the distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211,with reference to FIG. 6 , it may be desirable to partially retract thedistal end 209 of the primary electrode 207 to apply an electricalcurrent over a distance between the distal end 213 of the secondaryelectrode 211 and the distal end 209 of the secondary electrode 207.Providing a selective degree of movement of the distal end 213 of thesecondary electrode 211 independent of the primary electrode 207, asshown in FIG. 6 , as well as maintaining the distal end 213 of thesecondary electrode 211 when the distal end 209 of the primary electrode207 is partially withdrawn, is controlled by the actuator interlock 1140working in concert with the primary actuator and the secondary actuatoras further described below with reference to FIGS. 23-31 .

Referring to FIG. 23 , the actuator interlock 1140 is shown as situatedwithin the housing 1110 of the user interface. Specifically, theactuator interlock 1140 is positioned between the secondary grip 1153(which moves in concert with the secondary actuator, as previouslydescribed with reference to FIGS. 18-22 ) and the primary release 1130(which moves in concert with the primary actuator 1132, as previouslydescribed with reference to FIGS. 12-17 ). Portions of the primaryrelease 1130, the actuator interlock 1140, and the secondary grip 1153extend from the housing 1110 through a channel 2349 on an underside ofthe housing 1110. As previously described with reference to FIGS. 21 and22 , the secondary actuator 1152 engages the primary electrode slider1533 to cause the secondary electrode slider 2151 to move in concertwith the primary electrode slider 1533. The actuator interlock 1140 issized such that, in the first position shown in FIG. 23 , a second end2341 of the actuator interlock 1140 abuts a leading end 2331 of thesecondary actuator 1153 and a first end 2342 of the actuator interlock1140 abuts a trailing edge 2354 of the secondary electrode slider 1533such that the actuator interlock 1140 controls relative movement of theprimary release 1130 (and thus the primary actuator 1132) toward thesecondary grip 1153 (and thus the secondary actuator 1152) toward oneanother. In various embodiments, a pin (not shown) fixed to the primaryelectrode slider 1533 slides within a slot (not shown) within theactuator interlock 1140, and ends of the slot in the actuator interlock1140 present hard stops that limit the travel of the pin and,corresponding, limit the travel of the secondary electrode slider 2151.Thus, the secondary actuator 1140 operates to maintain a distancebetween the primary release 1130 and the secondary grip 1153 while theactuator interlock 1140 is in the first position shown in FIG. 23 .

The actuator interlock 1140 also features a lock bar (not shown in FIG.23 ) that engages the primary release 1130, as further described withreference to FIGS. 29-31 . The lock bar prevents the primary releasefrom being engaged while the actuator interlock 1140 is in the firstposition, as further described below. The actuator interlock 1140 alsofeatures locking teeth 2343 configured to engage locking notches (notshown in FIG. 23 ) within the housing 1110 when the actuator interlock1140 is in a second position, as further described below with referenceto FIG. 24 . The locking teeth 2343 operate to secure the actuatorinterlock 1140 in place to enable the primary actuator (not shown inFIG. 23 ) and the primary release 1130 to be moved independently of thesecondary actuator (not shown in FIG. 23 ) and the secondary grip 1153to enable the primary electrode (not shown in FIG. 23 ) to be partiallyretracted while the secondary electrode (not shown in FIG. 23 ) stays inplace, as further described below. Finally, a lever 2344 allows anoperator to engage the actuator interlock 1140 to rotate the actuatorinterlock 1140 between the first position and the second position, asfurther described below.

Referring to FIG. 24 , in a first position of the actuator interlock1140, locking teeth 2343 are situated to potentially engage lockingnotches 2446 in the housing 1110 to lock the secondary electrode (notshown in FIG. 24 ) in place. The locking notches 2446 are positioned toreceive the locking teeth 2343 after the secondary actuator and thesecondary grip (not shown in FIG. 24 ) are moved to extend the distalend of the secondary electrode (not shown in FIG. 24 ) as previouslydescribed. As will be appreciated and as will be further describedbelow, when the actuator interlock 1140 is rotated from the firstposition shown in FIG. 24 to a second position (shown in FIGS. 26-28 ),the locking teeth 2343 fit within the locking notches 2446 to preventthe actuator interlock 1140 from being moved relative to the housing1110 when, for example, the primary release 1130 is engaged and movedrelative to the housing. As further described below, the use of thelocking teeth 2343 to secure the position of the actuator interlock 1140serves to lock a secondary electrode slider to prevent movement of thesecondary electrode (neither of which is shown in FIG. 24 ), as isfurther described below.

Referring to FIG. 25 , the actuator interlock 1140 is disposed withinthe housing 1110 with the actuator interlock 1140 shown in a firstposition. The actuator interlock 1140 rotates within the housing 1110around a primary electrode 207 and a secondary electrode 211. A lever2344 extending out of the housing 1110 through the channel 2349 allows auser to engage and rotate the actuator interlock 1140. As previouslyshown in FIGS. 18-20 , the interlock lever 2344 is situated forward of asecondary actuator 1152 and a secondary grip 1153, where a forwarddirection is the left side of the FIGURE.

Referring to FIG. 26 , the actuator interlock 1140 is shown in a secondposition after the secondary electrode (not shown in FIG. 26 ) has beendeployed and before the primary electrode (not shown in FIG. 26 ) ispartially retracted. The lever 2344 is used to rotate the actuatorinterlock 1140 relative to the housing 1110 so as to cause locking teeth2343 of the actuator interlock 1140 to move into a second positionwithin the channel 2349 where the locking teeth 2343 engage lockingnotches (not shown in FIG. 26 ) to fix the actuator interlock 1140 inplace. As previously described with reference to FIG. 23 , the actuatorinterlock 1140 maintains a distance between the primary release (notshown in FIG. 26 ) and the secondary grip 1153 while the actuatorinterlock 1140 is in the first position. However, when the actuatorinterlock 1140 is in the second position as shown in FIG. 26 , theactuator interlock 1140 no longer prevents relative motion of theprimary release 1130 (and thus the primary actuator 1132) toward thesecondary grip 1153 (and thus the secondary actuator 1152). With theactuator interlock 1140 in the second position, the position of thesecondary electrode slider 2151 is secured relative to the housing 1110and, thus, may not move longitudinally relative to the housing 1110;however, the primary actuator 1132 may be moved upon engaging theprimary release 1130. Thus, the primary actuator (also not shown in FIG.26 ) is enabled to move independently of the secondary actuator (alsonot shown in FIG. 26 ) to allow the primary actuator to be moved towardthe secondary grip 1153 to retract the primary electrode (not shown inFIG. 26 ) without moving the secondary electrode (not shown in FIG. 26).

Referring to FIG. 27 , another view is provided of the actuatorinterlock 1140 in the second position to show how the locking teeth 2343engages locking notches 2446 in the housing 1110 to lock the secondaryelectrode (not shown in FIG. 26 ) in place. The locking notches 2446receive the locking teeth 2343 to lock the actuator interlock 1140 andto fix a position of the secondary electrode slider 2151 in place whilethe primary actuator 1132 and the primary electrode slider 1533 are ableto move upon the primary release 1130 being engaged. Again, the lever2344 allows a user to move the actuator interlock 1140 from the firstposition (shown in FIGS. 23-25 ) to the second position shown in FIGS.26-28 ). It will be appreciated that the lever 2344, which is slidableacross the channel 2349 to enable the actuator interlock 1140 to bemoved into the second position, is in the nature of a swipe lock thatcan be swiped from the first position to the second position.

Referring to FIG. 28 , in the user interface 1101 the actuator interlock1140 has been rotated within the housing 1110 about the primaryelectrode 207 and the secondary electrode 211 into the second position.FIG. 28 is similar to FIG. 25 except, in FIG. 28 , the actuatorinterlock 1140 has been rotated into the second position, whereas FIG.25 showed the actuator interlock 1140 in the first position. The lever2344 (extending from the actuator interlock 1140 and out of the housing1110 through a channel 2349) has been engaged by a user to rotate theactuator interlock 1140 into the second position, as previouslydescribed with reference to FIGS. 26 and 27 .

Referring to FIG. 29 , another view of the actuator interlock 1140 isprovided to show operation of a lock bar 2945 associated with theactuator interlock 1140. The lock bar 2945 selectively prevents movementof a primary release 1130. As previously described with reference toFIG. 5 , once the primary electrode 207 is deployed with the distal end209 at a desired location relative to the reference point 201, theprimary electrode 207 remains stationary while the secondary electrode211 is extended. The lock bar 2945 prevents the primary release 1130from being engaged to prevent the primary actuator (not shown in FIG. 29) from being moved to prevent movement of the primary electrode whilethe secondary electrode (neither of which is shown in FIG. 29 ) isextended.

Still referring to FIG. 29 , the actuator interlock 1140 is shown in thefirst position and is positioned before the secondary release andsecondary actuator are engaged to move secondary electrode (none ofwhich are shown in FIG. 29 ) independently of the primary actuator andthe primary electrode (also not shown in FIG. 29 ) as shown in FIG. 5 .In this position, a distal end 2957 of the lock bar 2945 does not engagethe primary release 1130. As previously described with reference toFIGS. 12-17 , the primary release 1130 and thus the primary actuator1132 may be operated to move the primary electrode (not shown in FIG. 29) as desired. As also previously described, for example, and withreference to FIGS. 14 and 22 , until the secondary release is engagedthe secondary actuator and, thus, the secondary electrode move inconcert with the primary actuator and the primary electrode, aspreviously described.

Referring to FIG. 30 , with the actuator interlock 1140 in the firstposition, the secondary actuator (not shown in FIG. 30 ) and, thus, thesecondary grip 1153 has been moved forward to extend the secondaryelectrode (not shown in FIG. 30 ). As a result, the actuator interlock1140 moves forward and, thus, the lock bar 2945 extends through a lockchannel 3060 in the primary release 1130. The lock channel 3060 includesa locking lobe 3062 and an open lobe 3064. When the actuator interlock1140 is in the first position, the lock bar 2945 passes through thelocking lobe 3062 of the lock channel 3060. As a result, if a userattempts to engage the primary release 1130 by depressing it asdescribed with reference to FIG. 13 , the lock bar 2945 engages a firstinner surface 3063 within the locking lobe 3062, thereby preventing theprimary release 1130 from being depressed. However, as further describedwith reference to FIG. 31 , when the actuator interlock 1140 is rotatedinto the second position, the lock bar 2945 rotates with the actuatorinterlock 1140 and the lock bar 2945 moves into the open lobe 3064 wherethe lock bar 2945 no longer engages the first inner surface 3063 when auser attempts to depress the primary release 1130.

Referring to FIG. 31 , the actuator interlock 1140 has been rotatedwithin the housing 1110 about the primary electrode 207 and thesecondary electrode 211 into the second position. With the actuatorinterlock 1140 rotated into the second position, the lock bar 2945 hasrotated into the open lobe 3064. With the lock bar 2945 extendingthrough the open lobe 3064, a user can depress the primary release 1130without surfaces of the lock channel 3060 engaging the lock bar 2945.Thus, once the actuator interlock 1140 is moved into the secondposition, the primary release 1130 may be engaged to enable partialretraction of the primary electrode 207, as further described below.

Referring to FIGS. 32A and 32B, the secondary electrode 211 has beendeployed and locked in position. The distal end 213 of the secondaryelectrode 211 extends beyond the reference point 201, and the actuatorinterlock 1140 has been moved into the second position within thehousing 1110 before the primary release 1130 is engaged to initiateretraction of the primary electrode 207 to withdraw the distal end 209of the primary electrode 207 away from reference point 201. In thismanner, once the secondary electrode 211 has been extended and securedin position, the primary electrode 207 may be moved to position thedistal end 209 of the primary electrode 207 relative to the distal end213 of the secondary electrode 211 to facilitate application of anelectric current to provide desired treatment. As described withreference to FIGS. 29-31 , once the actuator interlock 1140 is in thesecond position, the lock bar (not shown in FIG. 32A) does not preventthe depressing of the primary release 1130. Thus, the user interface isconfigured for partial withdrawal of the primary electrode 207.

Referring to FIGS. 33A and 33 , the primary release 1130 has beendepressed in a direction 3331 toward the housing 1110 to release theprimary actuator 1132. The primary actuator 1132 and the primary release1130 may now be moved rearward to partially retract the distal end 209of the primary electrode 207 away from the reference point 201.Depressing the primary release 1130 allows the primary actuator to moverelative to the housing 1110 as previously described with reference toFIGS. 12A-17 . As previously described with reference to FIG. 22 , theprevious activation of the secondary release 1150 caused the locking arm2259 to disengage from the locking notch 2239 in the primary electrodeslider 1533 so that movement of the secondary actuator 1152 and thesecondary electrode slider 2151 is no longer coupled with the primaryelectrode slider 1533. Referring again to FIG. 33A, the actuatorinterlock 1140 has been rotated into the second position so as not toblock relative movement between the primary release 1130 and thesecondary grip 1153. Accordingly, the primary actuator 1132 and, thus,the primary electrode 207 may now be moved independently of thesecondary electrode 211.

Referring to FIGS. 34A and 34B, the primary actuator 1132 has been moveda distance 3433 to retract the distal end 209 of the primary electrode207 by that same distance 3433. The primary release 1130 is thenreleased to travel in a direction 3431 where the primary actuator 1132and the primary release 1130 are then locked in place relative to thehousing 1110, as previously described with reference to FIGS. 14A-17 .With the movement of the primary electrode 207, the indicator 1192 onthe depth gauge 1190 also moves the distance 3433 to reflect theretraction of the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207.Accordingly, in these embodiments the user interface has allowed thedistal end 209 of the primary electrode 207 and the distal end 213 ofthe secondary electrode 211 to be positioned at desired locationsproximate to the reference point 201 in preparation for application ofelectrical current to treat tissue at or near the reference point 201.

Referring to FIG. 35 , another embodiment of a user interface 3501 maybe used to position a primary electrode and a secondary electroderelative to a reference point (not shown in FIG. 35 ). As inpreviously-described embodiments, in these embodiments the userinterface 3501 includes components that are moved parallel with ortransverse to an axis 3521 or rotated along a curve 3523 around the axis3521, as further described below. In such embodiments, the userinterface 3501 includes a coupling 3520 configured to engage anelectrosurgical apparatus, such as a bronchoscope (not shown in FIG. 35). By way of contrast to previous embodiments of the user interface,these embodiments of the user interface 3501 do not include a sheathactuator. However, a sheath actuator, like the sheath actuator describedin connection with previous embodiments and as described with referenceto FIGS. 7-11 , may be added to these embodiments of the user interface3501. Alternatively, the sheath actuator may be integrated with theelectrosurgical apparatus as previously described with reference to FIG.7 . Also, although not shown in FIG. 35 , like the previous embodimentsof the user interface 1101 of FIGS. 11-24 , leads from a switchablecurrent source are received at the user interface 3501 and a sheathcontaining primary and secondary electrodes (not shown in FIG. 35 )extend from the coupling 3520.

The user interface 3501 includes several user controls whose operationand effect are described in further detail in the following figures. Aprimary release 3530 coupled to the housing 3510 at a first end 3541 ofthe housing 3510 is configured unlock movement of the primary electrode(not shown in FIG. 35 ). The primary release 3530 includes a releaselever 3532 and a release spring 3533 to bias the release lever 3532 in alocked position. The primary release 3530 engages a slidable shaft 3536that is slidably received within a forward opening 3538 in the primaryrelease 3530. The slidable shaft 3536 is fixably coupled to the coupling3520. The slidable shaft 3536 is configured to move back and forth alongthe axis 3521. The slidable shaft 3536 is fixably coupled to a depthsetter rod 3534 in the nature of a geared rack. As explained furtherbelow, the depth setter rod 3534 is engaged by the actuator interlock3540 to selectively secure a position of the slidable shaft 3536 and, asa result, the position of the primary electrode.

The slidable shaft 3536 includes depth indicia 3539 that may be read atthe forward opening 3538 to determine a position of the primaryelectrode (not shown). It will be appreciated that the depth indicia3539 are read at the forward opening 3538 in a similar fashion, withreference to FIG. 11 , to reading of the indicator 1192 on the depthgauge 1190 to determine a position of the primary electrode (not shownin FIG. 35 ). As will be further described below, the primary electrodeis fixably coupled to the housing 3510 such that sliding the housing3510 relative to the slidable shaft 3536 controls a position of theprimary electrode. In other words, in contrast with previous embodimentsof the user interface of FIG. 11 (which included a separate primaryactuator 1132), the housing of the user interface 3501 itself acts as aprimary actuator for the primary electrode. The housing 3510 is movedforward and back along the axis 3521 to extend and retract,respectively, the primary electrode, as further described below.

A secondary actuator 3552 is fixably coupled to a secondary electrodeslider (not shown in FIG. 35 ), as will be described with reference toFIG. 36 . Sliding the secondary actuator 3552 within the secondarychannel 3554 channel permits movement of the secondary electrode (notshown in FIG. 35 ). The secondary actuator 3552 is selectively lockedand unlocked relative to the housing 3510 (and, thus, relative to theprimary electrode whose movement is controlled by movement of thehousing 3510) by an interlock lever 3540 that is secured to thesecondary electrode slider 3551. The interlock lever 3540 moves within aguide slot 3542 along the axis 3521 and along a curve 3523 around theaxis 3521. A position of the interlock lever 3540 relative to the guideslot 3542 controls the locking and unlocking of the secondary actuator3550 and, thus, of the secondary electrode, as further described below.In the initial configuration shown in FIG. 35 , a lever end 3547 issituated at a first position 3571 within the guide slot 3542, whichsecures the secondary actuator 3552 at a second end 3555 of thesecondary channel 3554. In an illustrative embodiment, guide indicia3543 may be included on the housing 3510 near the guide slot 3542 todirect a user in moving the interlock lever 3540 to control operation ofthe secondary actuator 3550. As also described further below, in otherconfigurations the depth setter rod 3534 may be engaged by the interlocklever 3540 to selectively lock the position of the primary electrode(not shown in FIG. 35 ).

Referring to FIG. 36 , an exploded view of the user interface 3501 ofFIG. 35 further details the composition and operation of the userinterface 3501. As already described with reference to FIG. 35 , theuser interface 3501 includes a coupling 3520 fixably coupled to an endof the slidable shaft 3536. The slidable shaft 3536, which is fixablycoupled with the depth setter rod 3534, is slidably received within theforward opening 3538 of the primary release 3530. The release lever 3532selectively releases the slidable shaft 3536 to move relative to theforward opening 3538 and is biased in a locked position by a spring 3637coupled between the primary release 3530 and the release lever 3532. Theprimary release 3530 is fixably coupled to the housing 3510. Beyond theprimary release 3530, the slidable shaft 3536 is slidably receivedwithin an opening 3655 in a secondary electrode slider 3551.

The secondary electrode slider 3551 is fixably coupled to the secondaryactuator 3552, which slidably moves within the secondary actuatorchannel 3554. Similarly, on an underside of the housing 3510, asecondary grip 3653 is coupled to an underside of the secondaryelectrode slider 3551 and extends through an additional channel 3655 inthe housing 3510. As previously described with reference to previousembodiments of the user interface, providing both the secondary actuator3552 and the secondary grip 3653 may allow a user to apply force asneeded to cause the secondary electrode (not shown in FIG. 36 ) topierce tissue as desired for a particular application. When thesecondary electrode slider 3551 is slidably received within the housing3510, electrodes (not shown in FIG. 36 ) may extend through a forwardopening 3641 in the housing 3510.

In the exploded diagram of FIG. 36 , additional aspects of the depthsetter rod 3534 and the interlock lever 3540 are shown to furtherdescribe the configuration of the user interface 3501. The interlocklever 3640 is secured to the secondary electrode slider 3551. Theinterlock lever 3540 is configured to engage the depth setter rod 3534.Specifically, in an illustrative embodiment, the depth setter rod 3534includes a lower-geared surface 3633 and an upper-geared surface 3635.Correspondingly, the interlock lever 3540 includes a lower-geared lock3643 and an upper-geared lock 3645. When a user manipulates the leverend 3547, the interlock lever 3540 may be rotated to cause thelower-geared lock 3643 to engage the lower-geared surface 3633 of thedepth setter rod 3534 and to cause the upper-geared lock 3645 to engagethe upper-geared surface 3635 of the depth setter rod 3534. In anillustrative embodiment, the lower-geared lock 3643 and the upper-gearedlock 3645 are flexible members configured to rotate over and engage thelower-geared surface 3633 and the upper-geared surface 3635, as furtherdescribed below. The lower-geared lock 3643 and the upper-geared lock3645 flex when rotated over the lower-geared surface 3633 and theupper-geared surface 3635 of the depth setter rod 3534, which appliespressure to the lower-geared surface 3633 and the upper-geared surface3635 of the depth setter rod 3534. The pressure thus applied secures theinterlock lever 3540 from being moved relative to the depth setter rod3534 until the interlock lever 3540 is rotated to disengage thelower-geared lock 3643 and the upper-geared lock 3645 from thelower-geared surface 3633 and the upper-geared surface 3635 of the depthsetter rod 3534. When the lower-geared lock 3643 and the upper-gearedlock 3645 of the interlock lever 3540 engage the lower-geared surface3633 and the upper-geared surface 3635, respectively, of the depthsetter rod 3534, the slidable sleeve 3536 is secured relative to thedepth setter rod 3534 and thus moves in concert with the interlock lever3540. Accordingly, motion of the slidable sleeve 3536 is then limited tomovement permitted by guide slot 3542 which engages the interlock lever3540, as described further below.

Referring to FIGS. 37A and 37B, the user interface 3501 is shown in afirst configuration prior to extension of the primary electrode 207beyond the distal end 105 of the sheath 103 proximate to the referencepoint 201, as shown in the inset view. As previously described, the userinterface 3501 does not include a sheath actuator to position the sheath103, although the same may be added to the user interface, for example,at the coupling 3520, or may be included within the electrosurgicalapparatus (not shown in FIG. 37A).

In various configurations of the user interface 3501, the slidable shaft3536 is fully extended from the primary release 3530, corresponding withthe distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207 resting within thedistal end 105 of the sheath 103. The secondary actuator 3552 ispositioned at a rear end 3555 of the secondary channel 3554 in thehousing 3510, corresponding with a distal end 213 of a secondaryelectrode 211 resting within the distal end 209 of the primary electrode207, prior to deployment of the secondary electrode 211 as previouslydescribed with reference to the previous embodiments of the userinterface 3501. The interlock lever 3540 also is in an initial positionwith a lever end 3547 being positioned at a first end 3571 of the guideslot 3542 to secure the secondary actuator 3552 in place at the secondend 3555 of the secondary channel 3554.

Deployment of the primary electrode 207 and the secondary electrode 211begins with a user engaging the primary release 3530. In an illustrativeembodiment, the primary release 3530 is engaged by depressing a distalend 3729 of the release lever 3532 to deform the release spring 3637 andto permit movement of the slidable shaft 3536. To extend the primaryelectrode 207, with the primary release 3530 thus engaged, the housing3510 is moved in a direction 3708 along the slideable shaft 3536.Whether the desired location has been reached may be determined byreading the depth indicia 3539 on the slideable shaft 3536 at theforward opening 3538 in the primary release 3530. Once the housing 3510has moved along the slidable shaft 3536 to move the primary electrode3507 to a desired location, the distal end 3535 of the release lever3532 is released, thereby allowing the release spring 3637 to return toan undeformed state and locking the slidable shaft 3536 in placerelative to the primary release 3530. The primary release 3530 isconfigured to apply mechanical pressure to slideable shaft 3536 suchthat, before the distal end 3729 of the release lever 3532 is depressedto engage the primary release 3530, the primary release 3530 and therest of the user interface 3501 cannot be moved relative to the slidableshaft 3536. Correspondingly, once the distal end distal end 3729 of therelease lever 3532 is released to disengage the primary release 3530,the primary release 3530 and the rest of the user interface 3501 cannotbe moved relative to the slidable shaft 3536, securing the position ofthe primary electrode 207, as further described herein.

Referring to FIGS. 38A and 38B, the distal end 209 of the primaryelectrode 207 has been extended to a desired location proximate to thereference point 201 in a manner as described with reference to FIGS. 37Aand 37B. The movement of the housing 3510 relative to the slidable shaft3536 shown in FIG. 38A has caused the distal end 209 of the primaryelectrode 207 to move to a desired location proximate to the referencepoint 201. That the desired location has been reached may be verified byreading the depth indicia 3639 on the slideable shaft 3536 at theforward opening 3538 in the primary release 3530. Also, because theinterlock lever 3540 has secured the secondary actuator 3552 at thesecond end 3555 of the secondary channel 3554, movement of the housing3510 also causes the secondary actuator 3552 to move the secondaryelectrode 211 in concert with the movement of the primary electrode 207,with the distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 remainingpositioned inside the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207.

Referring to FIG. 39 , the interlock level 3540 engages the depth setterrod 3534 to lock a position of the secondary actuator (not shown in FIG.39 ). As previously described, the primary release 3530 controls thepassage of the slideable shaft (not shown in FIG. 39 ) through theforward opening 3538 to control positioning of the primary electrode(also not shown in FIG. 39 ). In addition to the forward opening 3538, arod opening 3928 separately and slidably receives the depth setter rod3534 as the slidable shaft is moved through the primary release 3530.

The depth setter rod 3534, as previously described, includes thelower-geared surface 3633 and the upper-geared surface 3635 that areselectively engaged by the lower-geared lock 3643 and the upper-gearedlock 3645, respectively, of the interlock lever 3540. The lever end 3547allows a user to rotate the interlock lever 3540 to cause the gearedlocks 3643 and 3645 to engage the geared surfaces 3633 and 3635,respectively.

Referring to FIG. 40 , the interlock lever 3740 may be positioned sothat the lower-geared lock and the upper-geared lock (both of which arebehind the slidable shaft 3536 and, thus, are not shown in FIG. 40 )slide through the rod opening 3928 without the lower-geared lock and theupper-geared lock (both not shown in FIG. 40 ) engaging the lower-gearedsurface 3633 and the upper-geared surface 3635 of the depth setter rod3534. In this configuration, movement of the primary electrode and thesecondary electrode (both not shown in FIG. 40 ) are controlled byrelease of the primary release and the housing both (not shown in FIG.40 ) as previously described with reference to FIGS. 37 and 38 . Theposition of the lever end 3547 corresponds generally with that of thelever end being at a first, second, or third position within the guideslot (not shown in FIG. 40 ) further described below in which thelower-geared lock and the upper-geared lock do not secure the secondaryelectrode slider (also not shown in FIG. 40 ) to the depth setter rod3534. A user may engage the lever end 4047 to rotate the interlock lever3540 in a direction that will lead the lower- and upper-geared lockstoward the lower-geared surface 3633 and the upper-geared surface 3635,respectively, of the depth setter rod 3534, as further described below.

Referring to FIG. 41 , the interlock lever 3540 has been rotated by usermanipulation of the lever end 3547 so that the lower-geared lock 3643and the upper-geared lock 3645 of the interlock lever 3540 begin toengage the lower-geared surface 3633 and the upper-geared surface 3635of the depth setter rod 3534 forward of the rod opening 3928. Aspreviously described, in an illustrative embodiment, the lower-gearedlock 3643 and the upper-geared lock 3645 of the interlock lever 3540 areflexible so that they may deform slightly in order to engage the depthsetter rod 3534. Thus, the position of the lever end 3547 correspondsgenerally with that of the lever end 3547 being moved between a thirdposition within the guide slot toward a fourth position within the guideslot (not shown in FIG. 40 ) further described below in which thelower-geared lock and the upper-geared lock do not yet secure thesecondary electrode slider (also not shown in FIG. 40 ) to the depthsetter rod 3534, as further described below.

Referring to FIG. 42 , the interlock lever 43540 has been furtherrotated by user manipulation of the lever end 3547 into a lockedposition in which the lower-geared lock 3643 and the upper-geared lock3645 of the interlock lever 3540 engage the lower-geared surface 3633and the upper-geared surface 3635, respectively, of the depth setter rod3534 forward of the rod opening 3928. In a locked position,corresponding with the lever end 3547 being within a fourth or fifthposition within the guide slot (not shown in FIG. 42 ) further describedbelow in which the lower-geared lock 3643 and the upper-geared lock 3645secure the interlock lever 3540 to the depth setter rod 3534. In thisposition, even if the housing and thus the primary electrode (neither ofwhich are shown in FIG. 42 ) are moved, the secondary actuator 3540maintains the position of the secondary actuator (not shown in FIG. 42). The function of the interlock lever 3540 in positioning the primaryand secondary electrodes is further described below.

In FIGS. 43A-47C, side and top views of the second embodiment of theuser interface are shown, along with inset views to show positions ofthe electrodes corresponding to the configuration of the user interface.In FIGS. 43A-47C, it should be appreciated that the lever end 3547 ofthe interlock lever 3540 provides a visible and tactile indicator of aphase in which the user interface 3501 operates, for example, such as inextending the secondary electrode 211 or retracting the primaryelectrode 207.

Referring to FIGS. 43A-43C, the user interface 3501 is shown with theprimary electrode 207 extended before any steps have been taken toextend the secondary electrode 211. The primary release 3530 is in alocked position to secure the housing 3510 relative to the slideableshaft 3536. As a result, the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207is fixed in position proximate to the reference point 201. The interlocklever 3540 is in an initial locked position as indicated by the leverend 3547 of the interlock lever 3540 being disposed in the firstposition 3571 of the guide slot 3542. In this position, the lower-gearedlock and the upper-geared lock (not shown in FIGS. 43A and 43B) of theinterlock lever 3540 do not engage the depth setter rod 3534. However,with the lever end 3547 at the first position 3571, the interlock lever3540 is restrained from moving along the axis 3521 (FIG. 35 ) and thusholds prevents the secondary actuator 3552 and the secondary electrodeslider 3551 in place within the secondary channel 3554. Thus, becausethe primary electrode 207 is fixed in position and because the secondaryelectrode slider 3551 is locked in position, the distal end 213 of thesecondary electrode 211 is also locked in position relative to thereference point 201.

Referring to FIGS. 44A-44C, the user interface 3501 is shown with theprimary electrode 207 extended and the actuator interlock 3540manipulated to unlock movement of the secondary electrode 211. Theprimary release 3530 remains in a locked position to secure the housing2510 relative to the slideable shaft 3536. As a result, the distal end209 of the primary electrode 207 remains fixed in position proximate tothe reference point 302. The interlock lever 3540 is moved to a secondposition as indicated by the lever end 3547 of the interlock lever 3740having been moved to the second position 4473 of the guide slot 3542. Inthis position, as in the position described with reference to FIGS.44A-44C, the lower-geared lock and the upper-geared lock (not shown inFIGS. 44A and 44B) of the interlock lever 3540 still do not engage thedepth setter rod 3534. However, with the lever end 3547 at the secondposition 4473, the interlock lever 3540 is no longer restrained frommoving along the axis 3521 (FIG. 35 ) within the secondary channel 3554.The lever end 3547 thus may engage in limited movement within the guideslot 3542. Thus, the secondary actuator 3552 and the secondary slider3551 also may engage in limited movement within the secondary channel3554 to move the secondary electrode 211 toward the reference point 201.With the primary electrode 207 thus fixed in position, the distal end213 of the secondary electrode 211 may be moved toward the referencepoint 201 independently of the primary electrode 207.

Referring to FIGS. 45A-45C, the primary release 3530 remains in a lockedposition and the secondary electrode 211 has been extended. As a result,the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207 remains fixed inposition proximate to the reference point 201. The interlock lever 3540is moved to a third position as indicated by the lever end 3547 of theinterlock lever 3540 being disposed in the third position 4575 of theguide slot 3542. In this position, as in the position described withreference to FIGS. 44A-44C, the lower-geared lock and the upper-gearedlock (not shown in FIGS. 45A and 45B) of the interlock lever 3540 stilldo not engage the depth setter rod 3534. The lever end 3547 moves to thethird position 4575 within the guide slot 3542 as a user moves thesecondary actuator 3552 to move the secondary electrode slider 3551within the secondary channel 3554. The movement of the secondaryactuator 3552 moves the distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 toa desired position beyond the reference point 201 while the distal end209 of the primary electrode 207 remains fixed in position. Insulation515 on the secondary electrode 211 electrically isolates the distal end213 of the secondary electrode 211 from the distal end 209 of theprimary electrode 207, as previously described.

Referring to FIGS. 46A-46C, the primary release 3530 remains in a lockedposition to secure the housing 3510 relative to the slideable shaft 3536and the actuator interlock 3540 has been manipulated to lock themovement of the secondary electrode 211. As a result, the distal end 209of the primary electrode 207 remains fixed in position proximate to thereference point 201. The interlock lever 3540 is moved to a fourthposition 4677 by a user having moved the lever end 3547 of the interlocklever 3540 to the fourth position 4677 of the guide slot 3542. In thisposition, as described with reference to FIG. 42 , the lower-geared lock3643 and the upper-geared lock 3645 of the interlock lever 3540 engagethe lower-geared surface 3633 and the upper-geared surface 3635,respectively, of the depth setter rod 3534. Thus, with the lever end3547 in the fourth position 4677 of the guide slot 3542, the interlocklever 3540 and, thus, the secondary electrode slider 3551 and thesecondary actuator 3552 are locked in position with respect to the depthsetter rod 3534. Accordingly, both the distal end 209 of the primaryelectrode 207 and distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 arelocked in place relative to the reference point 201.

Referring to FIGS. 47A-47C, the primary release 3530 has been engaged tounlock the position of the housing 3510 relative to the slideable shaft3536 and the housing 3510 has been moved in a direction 4781 topartially retract the distal end 309 of the primary electrode 207. As aresult, the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207 is partiallywithdrawn from the reference point 201 toward the distal end 105 of thesheath 103. The interlock lever 3540 is moved to a fifth position by themovement of the housing 3510, with the lever end 3547 of the interlocklever 3540 to the fifth position 4779 of the guide slot 3542. In thisposition, as described with reference to FIG. 42 , the lower-geared lock3643 and the upper-geared lock 3645 of the interlock lever 3540 continueto engage the lower-geared surface 3633 and the upper-geared surface3635, respectively, of the depth setter rod 3534. Thus, with the leverend 3547 in the fourth position 4779 of the guide slot 3542, theinterlock lever 3540 and, thus, the secondary electrode slider 3551 andthe secondary actuator 3552 remain locked in position with respect tothe depth setter rod 3534. The movement of the housing 3510 causes thesecondary electrode slider 3551 and the secondary actuator 3552 to moveto forward in the secondary channel 3554 to allow the secondaryelectrode slider 3551 to remain locked in position relative to the depthsetter rod 3534 while the housing 3510 is moved in the direction 4781.In this manner, once the secondary electrode 211 has been extended andsecured in position, the primary electrode 207 may be moved to positionthe distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207 relative to the distalend 213 of the secondary electrode 211 to facilitate application of anelectric current to provide desired treatment. Accordingly, theseembodiments of the user interface have allowed the distal end 209 of theprimary electrode 207 and the distal end 213 of the secondary electrode211 to be positioned at desired locations proximate to the referencepoint 201 in preparation for application of electrical current to treattissue at or near the reference point 201.

Referring to FIG. 48 , another embodiment of the user interface 4801 isshown for positioning electrodes. The user interface 4801 includescomponents that are moved parallel along an axis 4821 or rotated along acurve 4823 around the axis 4821, as further described below. As alsofurther described below, the user interface 4801 generally is controlledby sliding the outer housing 4810 along the axis 4821, by slidingactuators extending through the outer housing 4810 at a first end 4841of the outer housing 4810, and by rotating the outer housing around theaxis 4821.

The user interface 4801 includes a coupling 4820 to engage a port on anelectrosurgical apparatus, such as a bronchoscope, as described withreference to FIGS. 1, 7, and 8 . The user interface 4801 also includes asheath actuator 4804 to position a sheath (not shown in FIG. 48 ) aspreviously described with reference to FIGS. 7-11 . The sheath actuator4804 includes a slidable sleeve 4812 and a sheath lock 4806 to engagethe slidable sleeve 4812 and secure the slidable sleeve 4812 in place,as described further below. It will be appreciated that, as describedwith reference to FIG. 35 and regarding another embodiment of the userinterface 3501, a sheath actuator may be part of the bronchoscope or aseparate device inserted between the user interface 4801 and thebronchoscope (not shown in FIG. 48 ).

The user interface 4801 includes an outer housing 4810 configured toenable manipulation of the electrodes. The outer sheath 4810 includes afirst guide slot 4831 configured to receive and direct movements of aprimary actuator 4832 that extends up through the first guide slot 4831.The outer housing 4810 also includes a second guide slot 4851 configuredto receive a secondary actuator (not shown in FIG. 48 ). As is furtherdescribed below, rotation of the outer housing 4810 along the curve 4823about the axis 4821 exposes and introduces the secondary actuator intothe second guide slot 4851. When the secondary actuator is receivedthrough the second guide slot 4851, the secondary actuator may besecured in place with a slidable actuator lock 4859, the operation ofwhich is further described below. Also, although not shown in FIG. 48 ,as in embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 11 , leads from a switchablecurrent source are received at the user interface 4801 and a sheathcontaining primary and secondary electrodes extends from the userinterface 4801 via the coupling 4820.

Referring to FIG. 49 , the outer housing 4810 includes the first guideslot 4831 to engage the primary actuator 4832. The primary actuator 4832extends from a primary electrode slider 4914, as described furtherbelow. The primary actuator 4832 extends upwardly through the firstguide slot 4831 in the outer housing 4810. By sliding the primaryactuator 4832 through the first guide slot 4831, a user may extend,lock, and partially retract the primary electrode (not shown in FIG. 49). The outer housing 4810 also includes the second guide slot 4851 thatis configured to receive the secondary actuator 4952 and which extendsfrom the secondary electrode slider 4916 through an intermediate guideslot 4933 in the primary electrode slider 4914, as further describedbelow. A ramp 4957 adjacent a second end 4958 of the second guide slot4851 and on an underside of the outer housing 4810 engages and subvertsthe secondary actuator 4852 when it is desired to retract the secondaryelectrode, as will be described further below.

The second guide slot 4851 in the outer housing 4810 is configured toreceive the secondary actuator 4952 when, as further described below,rotation of the outer housing 4810 along the curve 4823 about the axis4821 (FIG. 48 ) exposes and introduces the secondary actuator 4952 intothe second guide slot 4851. When the secondary actuator is receivedthrough the second guide slot 4851, the secondary actuator may besecured in place with a slidable actuator lock 4859, the operation ofwhich is further described below.

The primary electrode slider 4914 is longitudinally fixable to theprimary electrode (not shown in FIG. 49 ) such that longitudinalmovement of the primary electrode slider 4914 extends and retracts theprimary electrode without twisting the primary electrode. The primaryelectrode slider 4914 is slidably and rotatably received within theouter housing 4810. The primary actuator 4832 extends outwardly from theprimary electrode slider 4914 so that it extends upwardly through theouter housing 4810. The primary electrode slider 4914 also includes anintermediate guide slot 4933 configured to receive the secondaryactuator 4952 extending from the secondary electrode slider 4916.

The secondary electrode slider 4916 is longitudinally fixable to thesecondary electrode (not shown in FIG. 49 ) such that longitudinalmovement of the secondary electrode slider 4916 extends and retracts thesecondary electrode without twisting the secondary electrode. Thesecondary electrode slider 4916 is slidably received within the primaryelectrode slider 4914. The secondary actuator 4952 extends outwardlyfrom the secondary electrode slider 4916 is receivable through theintermediate guide slot 4933 in the primary electrode slider 4914. In anillustrative embodiment, the secondary actuator 4952 is spring-loaded orsimilarly extendable such that, when the outer housing 4810 is rotatedsuch that the second guide slot 4851 overlaps the intermediate guideslot 4933 in the primary electrode slider 4914, the secondary actuator4952 extends upward through the second guide slot 4851. In anotherillustrative embodiment, when the outer housing 4810 is rotated to movethe second guide slot 4851 so that it no longer overlaps theintermediate guide slot 4933 in the primary electrode slider 4914, theramp 4959 engages and compresses the secondary actuator 4952 to fitbeneath the outer housing 4810.

The sheath actuator 4804 includes a slidable sleeve 4812 fixably coupledto the sheath (not shown) and slidably received within the coupling 4820and securable with the sheath lock 4806. Operation of the sheathactuator 4804 is further described with reference to FIGS. 50 and 51 .In an illustrative embodiment, the slidable sleeve 4812 may be fixablycoupled to the outer housing 4810, such that movement of the electrodes(not shown in FIG. 49 ) made by using the user interface 4810 moves theelectrodes relative to the sheath.

Referring to FIGS. 50A and 50B and as used in conjunction with a userinterface 4801, the sheath actuator 4804 controls a position of thesheath 103. Specifically, a position of the sheath 103 is controlled bysliding the slidable sleeve 4812 within the coupling 4820 and securingthe sheath 103 at the desired location by securing the slidable sleeve4812 with the sheath lock 4806. The sheath actuator 4804 may operatesimilarly to the sheath lock 706 of FIG. 9 , as previously described.The slidable sleeve 4812 is fixably mounted to the outer housing 4810and is slidably received within the coupling 4820. When the slidablesleeve 4812 is situated to position the sheath 103 containing theelectrodes 207 and 211 at a desired location, the sheath lock 4806 islocked to secure the slidable sleeve 4812 in place. The sheath lock 4806may be a spring-loaded lock, a thumbscrew, or another similar mechanismas previously described with reference to FIGS. 7-10 to secure theslidable sleeve 4812 in place to secure the position of the sheath 103.

As previously described and as shown in the inset view, in illustrativeembodiments the secondary electrode 211 is received within the primaryelectrode, with a distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211initially resting just within the distal end 209 of the primaryelectrode 207. In turn, the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207rests just within the distal end 105 of the sheath 103. Before thesheath actuator 4804 is used to position the distal end 105 of thesheath 103 near the reference point 201, the distal end of the sheath103 may initially rest at a position away from or immediately adjacentto the reference point 201.

Referring to FIGS. 51A and 51B and as used in conjunction with a userinterface 4801, the sheath actuator 4804 is used to move the distal end105 of the sheath 103 to a position closer to the reference point 201 asshown in the inset view. A relative movement of the outer housing 4810toward the coupling 4820 by a distance 5019 moves the distal end 105 ofthe sheath 103 a corresponding distance to move the distal end 105 ofthe sheath 103 closer to the reference point 201. In turn, the distalend 209 of the primary electrode 207 and the distal end 213 of thesecondary electrode 211 are also moved closer to the reference point201. The relative movement of the outer housing 4810 toward the coupling4820 is accomplished by the slidable sleeve 4812 being at leastpartially received within the coupling 5120 and then secured with thesheath lock 4806, as previously described.

FIGS. 52A-57C show how the user interface 4801 moves the electrodes 207and 211 based on manipulation of the user interface 4801. Referring toFIG. 52A with regard to the user interface 4801, the primary actuator4832 extends from the primary slider 4914 through the first guide slot4831 of the outer housing 4810 and is situated at a first position 5233within the first guide slot 4831 (as shown in the cross-sectional viewtaken along line A-A and in the top-down view). Correspondingly, asshown in the inset view, in an initial position the distal end 209 ofthe primary electrode 207 remains positioned within a distal end 105 ofthe sheath 103, with the distal end 105 of the sheath 103 having beenpositioned proximate the reference point 201. The distal end 213 of thesecondary electrode 211 remains positioned within the distal end 209 ofthe primary electrode 207.

It should be noted that the secondary actuator 4952 and the intermediateguide slot 4933 are not yet exposed within the second guide slot 4851 inthe outer housing 4810 and, thus, are represented by dashed lines in thetop-down view. As will be appreciated, manipulation of the outer housing4810 and the primary actuator 4832 brings the secondary actuator 4952and the intermediate guide slot 4934 beneath the second guide slot 4851in the outer housing 4810 where the secondary actuator 4952 may besubsequently engaged by a user.

It should also be noted that the primary actuator 4832 is fixablycoupled to the primary electrode slider 4914 and the secondary actuator4952 is fixably coupled to the secondary electrode slider 4916.Accordingly, linear or rotational movement of the primary actuator 4832results in a corresponding movement of the primary electrode slider 4914to move the primary electrode 5207. Correspondingly, linear orrotational movement of the secondary actuator 4852 results in acorresponding movement of the secondary electrode slider 4916 to movethe secondary electrode 211. Thus, it should be understood that movementof the primary actuator 4832 may be regarded as causing movement of theprimary electrode 207 and movement of the secondary actuator 4952 may beregarded as causing movement of the secondary electrode 211 withoutassociated movement of the respective electrode slider being expresslydescribed.

Referring to FIGS. 53A-53C, the primary actuator 4832 (extending throughthe first guide slot 4831 of the outer housing 4810 of the userinterface 4801) has been moved by a user (not shown) to a secondposition 5335 within the first guide slot 4831 as shown in thecross-sectional view taken along line B-B and in the top-down view. Theuser may, for example, push the primary actuator 4832 forward to slidethe primary actuator 4832 through the first guide slot 4831 to thesecond position 5335. Correspondingly, as shown in the inset view, in asecond position, the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207 extendsbeyond the distal end 105 of the sheath 103 toward the reference point201 within the target tissue 202. The distal end 213 of the secondaryelectrode 211 remains positioned within the distal end 209 of theprimary electrode 207.

The secondary actuator 4952 (extending through the intermediate guideslot 4934 of the primary electrode slider 4914 and the intermediateguide slot 4934 of the primary electrode slider 4914) are not yetexposed within the second guide slot 4851 in the outer housing 4810 and,thus, continue to be represented by dashed lines in the top-down view.However, it should be appreciated that, with movement of the primaryactuator 4832 to the second position 5335 in the first guide slot 4831brings the intermediate guide slot 4934 parallel with the second guideslot 4951 in the outer housing 4810. As described with reference toFIGS. 54A-54C, relative rotation of the primary actuator 4832 across thefirst guide slot 4831 brings the secondary actuator 4952 and theintermediate guide slot 4934 beneath the second guide slot 4951 in theouter housing 4810 where the secondary actuator 4952 may be subsequentlyengaged by a user.

Referring to FIGS. 54A-54C, the primary actuator 4832 (extending throughthe first guide slot 4831 of the outer housing 4810 of the userinterface 4801) has been moved by the user (not shown) to a thirdposition 5437 within the first guide slot 4831 as shown in thecross-sectional view taken along line C-C and in the top-down view. Theuser may, for example, rotate the primary actuator 4832 laterally whilethe primary electrode slider 4914 and the secondary electrode slider4916 remain rotationally stationary to slide the primary actuator 4832within the first guide slot 4831 to the third position 5437. As shown inthe inset view, the relative position of the electrodes 207 and 211 hasnot changed. The distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207 remainsextended beyond the distal end 105 of the sheath 103 near the referencepoint 201, as shown in FIG. 53C. Similarly, the distal end 213 of thesecondary electrode 211 remains positioned within the distal end 209 ofthe primary electrode 207.

However, with movement of the primary actuator 4832 to the thirdposition 5437, the secondary actuator 4952 extends through theintermediate guide slot 4934 of the primary electrode slider 4914 andnow extends through the second guide slot 4851 in the outer housing 5810of the user interface 4801. The intermediate guide slot 4934 in theprimary electrode slider 4914 is overlapped by the second guide slot4851 in the outer housing 4810. In this position, the secondary actuator4952 rests at a first position 5453 within the second guide slot 4851.The secondary actuator 4952 may now be engaged by a user to extend thesecondary electrode 211, as described with reference to FIGS. 55A-55C.

Referring to FIGS. 55A-55C, the secondary actuator 4952 extends throughthe first guide slot 4851 in outer housing 4810 of the user interface4801 and is moved from the first location 5453 to a second location 5555in the second guide slot 4851. At the second location 5555, thesecondary actuator 4952 is now situated adjacent to the slidableactuator lock 4859, the operation of which is further described withreference to FIG. 56 . The primary actuator 4832 extends through thefirst guide slot 4831 of the outer housing 4810 and remains at the thirdposition 5437 within the first guide slot 4831. A user (not shown), forexample, may push the secondary actuator 4952 to move the secondaryactuator 4952 from the first position 5453 to the second position 5555in the second guide slot 4851.

As shown in the inset view, with movement of the secondary actuator4952, the distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 is extendedbeyond the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207 to a locationbeyond the reference point 201. Electrical insulation 515 electricallyisolates all but the distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 fromthe primary electrode 207. By contrast, with movement of the primaryactuator 4832 toward the reference point 201 being limited by the firstguide slot 4831, the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207 remainsin the same position as shown in FIG. 54C.

Referring to FIGS. 56A-56C, the secondary actuator 4952 extends throughthe intermediate guide slot 4934 in the primary electrode slider 4914and is secured in place by the slidable actuator lock 4859. Aspreviously described with reference to other embodiments of the userinterface, once the distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 isextended to a desired location opposite the reference point 201 from thedistal end 209 of the primary electrode 207, it may be desirable tomaintain the secondary electrode 211 in place while the distal end 209of the primary electrode 207 is partially withdrawn. Because thesecondary electrode 211 extends through the primary electrode 209,withdrawal of the primary electrode 209 may apply force to the secondaryelectrode 211 that, potentially, could cause the distal end 213 of thesecondary electrode 211 to retract. The slidable actuator lock 4859,however, may help prevent the secondary actuator 4952 from moving withinthe second guide slot 4851, thereby helping hold the distal end 213 ofthe secondary electrode 211 in place.

The slidable actuator lock 4859 slides across the second guide slot 4851from a base 5669 and engages the secondary actuator 4952 to prevent thesecondary actuator 4952 from moving from the second location 5555 in thesecond guide slot 4851. As a result, when the primary actuator 4832 isengaged to retract the primary electrode 207 as described with referenceto FIGS. 57A-57C, the secondary actuator 4952 and, thus, the secondaryelectrode 211, remain in place.

Referring to FIGS. 57A-57C, with the secondary actuator 4952 secured atthe second location 5555 in the second guide slot 4851 by the slidableactuator lock 4859, the primary actuator 4832 is engaged by a user (notshown) to partially retract the distal end 209 of the primary electrode207. Specifically, the primary actuator 4832 (that extends from theprimary slider 4914 through the first guide slot 4831 of the outerhousing 4810 of the user interface 4801) has been moved by the user (notshown) to a fourth position 5739 within the first guide slot 4831 asshown in the top-down view and in the cross-sectional view taken alongline E-E. The user may, for example, push the primary actuator 4832 toslide the primary actuator 4832 through the first guide slot 4831 to thefourth position 5739. As shown in the inset view, the position of thedistal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 remains unchanged relativeto the reference point 201, because the secondary actuator 4952 is heldin place by the slidable actuator lock 4859 at the second position 5555in the second guide slot 4851. However, as shown in FIG. 57C, the distalend 209 of the primary electrode 207 has been partially retracted nearerto the distal end 105 of the sheath 103. In this manner, once thesecondary electrode 211 has been extended and secured in position, theprimary electrode 207 may be moved to position the distal end 209 of theprimary electrode 207 relative to the distal end 213 of the secondaryelectrode 211 to facilitate application of an electric current toprovide desired treatment.

The following pertains to removal of the device. Due to the primaryactuator 4832 being located at the fourth position 5739 in the firstguide slot 4831, the primary electrode 207 cannot be retracted until theprimary actuator 4832 is moved to the third position 5437 within thefirst guide slot 4831, the slidable actuator lock 4859 unlocks thesecondary actuator 4952 and the secondary actuator 4952 is retracted tothe first position 5453 within the second guide slot 4851. Thus,accidental retraction of the primary electrode 207 cannot occur whilethe secondary electrode 211 is in the extended position.

Referring to FIG. 58 , in another embodiment a user interface 5801 isprovided for positioning electrodes conveyed by a sheath at a desiredlocation at or near a reference point (none of which are shown in FIG.58 ). The user interface 5801 includes a sheath actuator 5804, a primaryhousing 5830, a secondary housing 5850, and a lock rod 5870. As will bedescribed in detail below, movement of the electrodes is accomplished byusing the sheath actuator 5804 to position a sheath and to set aposition of the lock rod 5870, rotating the secondary housing 5850 alonga curve 5823 around an axis 5821 of the user interface 5801, and slidingthe primary housing 5850 along the axis 5821. The primary housing 5830is mechanically secured to a primary electrode (not shown in FIG. 58 )such that sliding the primary housing 5830 slides the primary electrode.Similarly, the secondary housing 5850 is mechanically secured to asecondary electrode (not shown in FIG. 58 ) such that sliding thesecondary housing 5850 slides the secondary electrode. By contrast withprevious embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 11-57 , the userinterface 5801 does not include actuators or levers used to manipulatethe position of the electrodes. Instead, manipulation of the electrodesis performed by sliding and rotating the secondary housing 5850 andsliding the primary housing 5830, as further described below.

Referring to FIG. 59 , in a particular embodiment, the coupling 5820 isconfigured to engage a port on an electrosurgical apparatus, such as abronchoscope, as described with reference to FIGS. 1, 7, and 8 . Thecoupling 5820 slidably receives the primary housing 5830 and the lockbar 5870. Once the sheath (not shown in FIG. 59 ) is disposed at adesired location relative to the reference point (also not shown in FIG.59 ), a sheath lock 5806 may be used to fix the sheath in place and alsoto fix a position of the lock bar 5870 relative to the reference point.The primary housing 5830 and the lock bar 5870 also are slidably androtatably received within the secondary housing 5850. As described indetail below, the sliding and rotation of the primary housing 5830 andthe lock bar 5870 relative to the secondary housing 5850 controls therelative movement and fixing of positions of the primary housing 5830and the secondary housing 5850 and, thus, the relative movement andfixing positions of the primary and secondary electrode, respectively.

Referring to FIGS. 60A and 60B, operation of the sheath actuator 5804 isdescribed to explain positioning of the sheath 105 and the lock bar5870. As further described below, in an initial configuration, slidingof the secondary housing 5850 also slides the primary housing 5830.Thus, sliding the secondary housing 5850 slides the primary housing 5830relative to the coupling 5820.

Referring to FIGS. 61A and 61B, movement of the secondary housing 5850through the distance 6019 results in the primary housing 5830 advancingthrough the distance 6019 into the coupling 5820. Correspondingly, thesheath 103 advances into the body to move the distal end 105 of thesheath 103 toward the reference point 202. In this configuration,movement of the secondary housing 5850 also causes the distal end 209 ofthe primary electrode 207 (which rests within the distal end 105 of thesheath 103) and the distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 (whichrests within the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207) to becorrespondingly advanced toward the reference point. Once the distal end105 of the sheath 103 reaches a desired location relative to thereference point 202, the sheath lock 5806 may be used to lock the sheath103 in place. In a particular embodiment, the sheath lock 5806 also maylock a position of the lock rod 5870, which thereby fixes a referenceposition for positioning of the primary housing 5830 and the secondaryhousing 5850, as will be further described below.

FIGS. 62-64C illustrate components of the user interface 5801. Referringto FIG. 62 , the lock rod 5870 includes a positioning section 6271 and alocking section 6273. The positioning section 6271 may be received andsecured, for example, in the coupling 5820 as previously described tofix a position of the lock rod. The locking section 6273 supports aplurality of outwardly-extending teeth 6275 which are engaged by one ormore inward facing teeth supported by the primary housing 5830 and thesecondary housing 5850, as further described below, to facilitatelocking positions of the housings 5830 and 5850 to prevent them fromsliding along the lock rod 5870.

Referring to FIG. 63A, a first side of the primary housing 5830 isshown. In a particular embodiment, the primary housing 5830 is generallycylindrical in shape to permit sliding and rotating within a chamberwithin the secondary housing 5850, as further described with referenceto FIGS. 64A-70C. The primary housing 5830 includes an outward-facingguide slot 6333 configured to receive a guide member (not shown in FIG.63A) extending inwardly from a secondary housing 5850. The engagement ofthe guide member with the guide slot 6333 controls relative movement ofthe primary housing 5830 and the secondary housing 5850, as furtherdescribed below.

Referring to FIG. 63B, a second side of the primary housing 5830 isshown. In a particular embodiment, the primary housing 5830 includes aprimary lock channel 6335 that is configured to receive the lock rod5870. Within the primary lock channel 6335, one or more inwardly-facingteeth 6337 are configured to engage the teeth 6275 extending from thelock rod 5870 to prevent the primary housing 5830 from sliding relativeto the lock rod 5870 when the lock rod 5870 is received within theprimary lock channel.

Referring to FIG. 63C, a cross-sectional view of the primary housing5830 shows the guide slot 6333 and the primary lock channel 6335. At thepoint along the primary housing 5830 where the cross-sectional view ofFIG. 64C is taken, the guide slot 6333 enables sliding of the guidemember (not shown) within the guide slot 6333 because, with reference toFIG. 63A, there are no transverse sides of the guide slot 6333 at thislocation to block sliding of the guide member. The primary lock channel6335 includes a groove configured to receive the lock bar 5870. Itshould be noted that the primary housing 5830 defines an open core 6334through which the primary electrode, the secondary electrode, thesheath, or other apparatuses (none of which are shown in FIG. 63C) mayextend or may be received.

Referring to FIG. 63D, another cross-sectional view of the primaryhousing 5830 shows the guide slot 6333 and the primary lock channel6335. At the point along the primary housing 5830 where thecross-sectional view of FIG. 64D is taken, the guide slot 6333 enablesrotating of the guide member (not shown) across the guide slot 6333,although, with reference to FIG. 63A, adjacent transverse sides mayblock sliding of the guide member. Within the primary lock channel 6335,the one or more teeth 6337 extend to engage the teeth 6275 on the lockbar 5870 when it is received within the primary lock channel 6335 toprevent the primary housing 5830 from sliding along the lock bar 5870.

Referring to FIG. 64A, a side view of the secondary housing 5850 isshown. As previously stated, in contrast to the embodiment of the userinterface 4801 of FIGS. 48-57 , the secondary housing 5850, which is anouter housing, does not support levers, separate actuators, or openingsthrough which such levels and separate actuators extend. Instead, thesecondary housing 5850 in and of itself is an actuator to be engaged bya user to manipulate positions of electrodes (not shown in FIG. 64A). Inthe illustrated embodiment, the secondary housing 5850 is shown to havea cylindrical outer shape, but the secondary housing 5850 may supportknurled grips or feature a different outer shape that may be desirablefor holding or manipulating the user interface.

Referring to FIGS. 64B and 64C, cross-sectional views of the secondaryhousing 5850 show an inner channel 6454 defined by an inner wall 6452that is configured to slidably and rotatably receive the primary housing5830. A secondary lock channel 6458 defined by a secondary channel wall6456 is configured to receive the lock bar 5870 which, as describedbelow, may slide within the secondary lock channel 6458 or be movedacross the secondary lock channel 6458 by the rotation of the secondaryhousing 5850 to selectively reposition the lock bar 5870.

The secondary channel 6458 includes three lobes which control relativemovement of the housings 5830 and 5850 relative to the lock bar 5870 asdescribed in detail with reference 65A-65C, 66A-66C, 67A-67C, 68A-68C,69A-69C, and 70A-70C. With the lock bar 5870 in a first lobe 6461, theprimary housing 5830 and the secondary housing 5850 may slide freelyrelative to the lock bar 5870. With the lock bar 5870 in a second lobe6463, the secondary channel wall 6456 presses against the lock rod 5870,causing the lock rod 5870 to engage the teeth 6337 in the primary lockchannel 6335 of the primary housing 5830, thereby preventing the primaryhousing 5830 from sliding relative to the lock rod 5870. However, withthe lock rod 5870 in the second lobe 6463, the secondary housing 5850remains free to slide relative to the lock bar 5870. In a third lobe6465, one or more inward-facing teeth 6459 configured to engage theoutward-facing teeth 6275 extending from the lock bar 5870. Thus, withthe lock bar 5870 in the third lobe 6465, the secondary housing 5850 isblocked from sliding relative to the lock bar 5870. However, when thelock bar 5870 is in the third lobe 6465, the teeth 6337 in the primarylock channel 6335 of the primary housing 5830 no longer engage the lockrod 5870, so the primary housing 5830 is free to slide relative to thelock bar 5870.

Referring again to FIG. 64C, an inwardly-extending guide member 6455 isconfigured to be received within the guide slot 6333 of the primaryhousing 5830 described with reference to FIGS. 63A and 63C. Engagementof the guide member 6455 with the guide slot 6333 controls relativemovement of the primary housing 5830 and the secondary housing 5850, asfurther described below.

Referring to FIG. 65A, a side view of the user interface 5801 is shownin an initial configuration for extending both the primary electrode 207and the secondary electrode 211 (FIG. 65D). FIGS. 65A-70D are used toillustrate how movement of the user interface 5801 is used to controlpositions of the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207 and thedistal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 within a body.Specifically, sliding and rotating of the outer, secondary housing 5850and sliding of the inner, primary housing 5830 positions the electrodes207 and 211 relative to reference point 202. It should be noted that inthe side views of the user interface 5801 of FIGS. 65A, 66A, 67A, 68A,69A, and 70A, the coupling 5820 and the secondary housing 5850 are shownin cutaway views (represented by dashed lines) to show the relativemovement of the primary housing 5830 relative to the coupling 5820 andthe secondary housing 5850. Also, in the views of FIGS. 65A, 66A, 67A,68A, 69A, and 70A, the lock rod 5870 would be positioned behind the userinterface and, thus, is not shown in FIGS. 65A, 66A, 67A, 68A, 69A, and70A. However, the lock bar 5870 and its engagement with the primaryhousing 5830 and the secondary housing 5850 are shown in thecross-sectional views, such as shown in the cross-sectional views ofFIGS. 65B and 65C. Movement of the electrodes 207 and 211 relative tothe reference point is shown in the corresponding inset views, such asshown in FIG. 65D.

Referring again to FIG. 65A, in the initial configuration for extendingboth the primary electrode 207 and the secondary electrode 211, theguide member 6455 is received in a first transverse guide segment 6541of the guide slot 6333 of the secondary housing 5850 (FIG. 65D). Withthe guide member 6455 of the secondary housing 5850 engaged in the firsttransverse guide segment 6541 of the guide slot 6333 of the primaryhousing 5830, the housings 5830 and 5850 can only be moved in concertalong the axis 5821 (FIG. 58 ) of the user interface 5801.

Referring to FIGS. 65B and 65C, with the guide member 6455 in the firsttransverse guide segment 6541 of the guide slot 6333, the lock rod 5870is received in a first lobe 6561 of the secondary lock channel 6458.When received in the first lobe 6561 of the secondary lock channel 6458,neither the teeth 6459 in the secondary lock channel 6458 of thesecondary housing 5850 nor the teeth 6337 in the primary lock channel6335 engage the lock rod 5870. Thus, both the primary housing 5830 andthe secondary housing 5850 may slide freely relative to the lock rod5870, although, as previously described, the engagement of the guidemember 6455 with the guide slot 6333 cause the primary housing 5830 andthe secondary housing 5850 to move in concert (i.e., to movesimultaneously through the same distance).

Referring to FIG. 66A, a side view of the user interface 5801 is shownin a second configuration once the distal end 209 of the primaryelectrode 207 and the distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 havebeen extended into the reference point 201 as shown in FIG. 66D. Asdescribed with reference to FIG. 65A, engagement of the guide member6455 with the guide slot 6333 of the secondary housing 5850 causes theprimary housing 5830 and the secondary housing 5850 to move in concertthrough a distance 6691. As shown in FIGS. 66B and 66C, and aspreviously explained with reference to FIGS. 65B and 66C, the lock rod5870 is in the first lobe 6461 of the secondary lock channel 6456 whereit does not engage the teeth 6459 in the secondary lock channel 6458 ofthe secondary housing 5850 or the teeth 6337 in the primary lock channel6335, enabling the primary housing 5830 and the secondary housing 5850to slide freely relative to the lock rod 5870.

Referring to FIG. 67A, the secondary housing 5850 is rotated in adirection 6793 to move the guide member 6455 into a second segment 6743of the guide slot 6333. With the guide member 6455 in the second segment6743 of the guide slot 6333, the secondary housing 5850 is free to moverelative to the primary housing 5830. However, the guide slot 6333blocks further rotation of the guide member 6455 in the direction 6793.

Referring to FIGS. 67B and 67C, it can be seen that the rotation of thesecondary housing 5850 results in the lock rod 5870 moving into thesecond lobe 6463 of the secondary lock channel 6458 where the secondarychannel wall 6456 impinges upon the lock rod 5870 so that the lock rod5870 engages the teeth 6337 in the primary lock channel 6335 of theprimary housing 5830, thus preventing the primary housing 5830 fromsliding relative to the lock rod 5870. However, with the lock rod 5870in the second lobe 6463, the secondary housing 5850 remains free toslide relative to the lock rod 5870. Referring to FIG. 67D, it can beseen that the rotation of the secondary housing 5850 does not result inmovement of the electrodes 207 and 211.

Referring to FIG. 68A, the secondary housing 5850 is slidably movedthrough a distance 6891, independently of the primary housing 5830, toextend the distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 to an opposingside of the reference point 202 from the distal end 209 of the primaryelectrode 207. The guide member 5455 now extends into a third segment6845 of the guide slot 6333 where the guide member 6455 is limited fromfurther sliding in the direction of the distance 6891, but is free tomove across the guide slot 6333 to permit rotation of the secondaryhousing 5850 relative to the primary housing 5830.

Referring to FIGS. 68B and 68C, it can be seen that the lock rod 5870remains in the second lobe 6463 of the secondary lock channel 6458.Thus, the secondary channel wall 6456 continues to impinge upon the lockrod 5870 so that the lock rod 5870 engages the teeth 6337 in the primarylock channel 6335 of the primary housing 5830, thus continuing toprevent the primary housing 5830 from sliding relative to the lock rod5870. With the lock rod 5870 remaining in the second lobe 6463, thesecondary housing 5850 continues to be free to slide relative to thelock rod 5870.

Referring to FIG. 69A, the secondary housing 5850 is rotated in adirection 6993. The guide member 5455 now extends into a fourth segment6947 of the guide slot 6333 where the guide member 6455 is limited fromfurther rotating in the direction 6993, but now permits relative slidingmovement of the primary housing 5830 relative to the secondary housing5850.

Referring to FIGS. 69B and 69C, it can be seen that the lock rod 5870moves into the third lobe 6465 of the secondary lock channel 6458. As aresult, the lock rod 5870 no longer engages the teeth 6337 in theprimary lock channel 6335 of the primary housing 5830, enabling theprimary housing 5830 to slide relative to the lock bar 5870. However,with rotation of the secondary housing 5850 causing the lock bar 5870 tobe received into the third lobe 6465 of the secondary lock channel 6458,the teeth 6459 extending from the secondary housing 5850 now engage thelock rod 5870, thereby preventing sliding movement of the secondaryhousing 5850 relative to the lock rod 5870. Referring to FIG. 69D, itshould be noted that the rotation of the secondary housing 5850 againresults in no movement of the electrodes 207 and 211.

Referring to FIG. 70A, the primary housing 5830 is moved through adistance 7091 to partially retract the primary housing 5830 within thesecondary housing 5850 to partially retract the distal end 209 of theprimary electrode 207 away from the distal end 213 of the secondaryelectrode 211 as shown in FIG. 70D. The primary housing 5830 is free toslide relative to the lock rod 5870. As previously described withreference to FIGS. 69B and 69C and as shown in FIGS. 70B and 70C, therotation of the secondary housing 5850 caused the lock rod 5870 to berotated into the third lobe 6465 of the secondary lock channel 6458 inthe secondary housing 5850. As a result, the lock rod 5870 was movedaway and disengaged from the teeth 6337 in the primary lock channel 6355of the primary housing 5830. With the lock rod 5870 in the third lobe6465 of the secondary lock channel 6458 of the secondary housing 5850,the lock rod 5870 engages the teeth 6459 in the third lobe 6465 of thesecondary lock channel 6458 of the secondary housing 5850, therebypreventing the secondary housing 5850 from sliding relative to the lockbar 5870. In this manner, once the secondary electrode 211 has beenextended and secured in position, the primary electrode 207 may be movedto position the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207 relative tothe distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 to facilitateapplication of an electric current to provide desired treatment.

It will be appreciated that the illustrative embodiment of the userinterface described with reference to FIGS. 62-70D describe significantdetail in the structure and operation of the user interface 5801, buthas set forth relatively simple manipulation—of only the secondaryhousing 5850 to position the electrodes 207 and 211 until the primaryhousing 5830 is retracted in a final step. In furtherance thereof, FIGS.71A-76B are provided to illustrate operation of the embodiment of theuser interface described with reference to FIGS. 62-70D.

Referring to FIG. 71A, the user interface 5801 is shown in readiness fordeployment of the electrodes 207 and 211 in the vicinity of thereference point 202. As shown in FIG. 71B, the distal end 209 of theprimary electrode 207 rests inside the distal end 105 of the sheath 103and the distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 rests inside thedistal end 209 of the primary electrode 207.

Referring to FIG. 72A, the user interface 5801 is shown with thesecondary housing 5850 and the primary housing 5830 moved in thedirection 6691 to, as shown in FIG. 72B, simultaneously extend thedistal end 209 of the primary electrode 207 and the distal end 213 ofthe secondary electrode 211 into the reference point 202, as previouslydescribed with reference to FIGS. 66A-66D.

Referring to FIG. 73A, the user interface 5801 is shown with thesecondary housing 5850 rotated in the direction 6793 to, as shown inFIG. 73B, secure the primary electrode 207 from being moved relative tothe reference point 202. The primary electrode 207 is thus secured inplace while, the secondary housing 5850 is remains free to slide, aspreviously described with reference to FIGS. 67A-67D.

Referring to FIG. 74A, the user interface 5801 is shown with thesecondary housing 5850 moved in the direction 6891 to, as shown in FIG.74B, extend the distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 across thereference point 202, as previously described with reference to FIGS.68A-68D.

Referring to FIG. 75A, the user interface 5801 is shown with thesecondary housing 5810 rotated in the direction 6993 to, as shown inFIG. 75B, secure the distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 inplace across the reference point 202 while preparing for the partialretraction of the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207, aspreviously described with reference to FIGS. 69A-69D.

Referring to FIG. 76A, the user interface 5801 is shown with the primaryhousing 5830 moved in the direction 7091 as previously described withreference to FIGS. 70A-70D to partially retract the distal end 209 ofthe primary electrode 207. As shown in FIG. 76B, the distal end 209 ofthe primary electrode 207 is thus partially withdrawn from the referencepoint 202 while leaving the distal end 213 of the secondary electrode211 in place, thereby readying the electrodes 207 and 211 foradministration of treatment.

Referring to FIG. 77 , an illustrative method 7700 of positioningelectrodes for treatment is provided. The method 7700 starts at a block7705. At a block 7710, a sheath containing a primary electrode and asecondary electrode is extended, where the secondary electrode iscontained within the primary electrode and initially coupled to movewith the primary electrode as previously described, for example, withreference to FIGS. 8, 51, and 61 . At a block 7720, the primaryelectrode is moved to a first location near a reference point aspreviously described, for example, with reference to FIGS. 14, 38, 53,and 64 . At a block 7730, the primary electrode is locked in position atthe first location as previously described, for example, with referenceto FIGS. 14, 38, 54, and 65 . At a block 7740, movement of the secondaryelectrode (independent of the primary electrode) is unlocked aspreviously described, for example, with reference to FIGS. 19, 44, 54,and 65 . At a block 7750, the secondary electrode is moves to a secondlocation near the reference point as previously described, for example,with reference to FIGS. 20, 45, 55, and 66 . At a block 7760, thesecondary electrode is locked in position at the second position aspreviously described, for example, with reference to FIGS. 26, 46, 55,and 68 . The method 7700 ends at a block 7765, with the electrodes nowpositioned for the administration of treatment.

Referring to FIG. 78 , an illustrative method 7800 of positioningelectrodes for treatment is provided. The method 7800 relates to the useof a user interface as previously described, for example, with referenceto FIGS. 11-34 .

The method 7800 starts at a block 7805. At a block 7810, a sheath isextended toward a reference point, the sheath containing a primaryelectrode mechanically coupled to a primary actuator and selectivelylockable by a primary release and a secondary electrode mechanicallycoupled to a secondary actuator and lockable by a secondary release,wherein the secondary electrode is slidably received within the primaryelectrode. At a block 7820, the primary release is activated to permitmovement of the primary actuator as previously described, for example,with reference to FIG. 13 . At a block 7830, the primary actuator ismoved to move the primary electrode to a first location relative to thereference point as previously described, for example, with reference toFIG. 13 . At a block 7840, the primary release is locked to lock theprimary actuator to maintain the primary electrode at the first locationas previously described, for example, with reference to FIG. 14 .

At a block 7850, the secondary release is activated to decouple thesecondary actuator from the primary actuator to permit movement of thesecondary actuator independent of the primary actuator as previouslydescribed, for example, with reference to FIG. 19 . At a block 7860, thesecondary actuator is moved to move the secondary electrode to a secondlocation relative to the reference point as previously described, forexample, with reference to FIG. 20 . At a block 7870, the secondaryrelease is locked to lock the secondary actuator to maintain thesecondary electrode at the second location as previously described, forexample, with reference to FIG. 20 . The method 7800 ends at a block7875, with the electrodes now positioned for the administration oftreatment.

Referring to FIG. 79 , an illustrative method 7900 of positioningelectrodes for treatment is provided. The method 7900 relates to the useof a user interface as previously described, for example, with referenceto FIGS. 35-47 .

The method 7900 starts at a block 7905. At a block 7910, a sheath isextended, with the sheath containing a primary electrode mechanicallycoupled to a housing and selectively lockable by the latch and asecondary electrode mechanically coupled to the secondary actuator andlockable by an interlock lever, where the secondary electrode isslidably received within the primary electrode. At a block 7920, thelatch is released to enable the housing to move the primary electroderelative to a reference point as previously described, for example, withreference to FIG. 38 . At a block 7930, the housing is slid to move theprimary electrode to a first location relative to the reference point aspreviously described, for example, with reference to FIG. 38 . At ablock 7940, the latch is secured to prevent movement of the housingrelative to the sleeve as previously described, for example, withreference to FIG. 38 . At a block 7950, the interlock lever is movedthrough a series of positions in the guide slot on the housing fordecoupling the secondary electrode from the primary electrode and movingthe secondary electrode to a second location relative to the referencepoint as previously described, for example, with reference to FIGS.44-46 . The method 7900 ends at a block 7955, with the electrodes nowpositioned for the administration of treatment.

Referring to FIG. 80 , an illustrative method 8000 of positioningelectrodes for treatment is provided. The method 8000 relates to the useof a user interface as previously described, for example, with referenceto FIGS. 48-57 .

The method 8000 starts at a block 8005. At a block 8010, a sheath isextended, where the sheath contains a primary electrode and a secondaryelectrode slidably received within the primary electrode as previouslydescribed, for example, with reference to FIG. 51 .

At a block 8020, an apparatus coupled with the primary electrode and thesecondary electrode is deployed. The apparatus includes a secondaryelectrode slider mechanically coupled with a secondary electrode andsupporting a secondary actuator. The apparatus also includes a primaryelectrode slider mechanically coupled with a primary electrode andsupporting a primary actuator, and also defining an intermediate guideslot configured to receive and engage the secondary actuator. Theapparatus also includes an outer housing having a first end, with theouter housing defining a primary guide slot configured to receive andengage the primary actuator and a secondary guide slot configured toreceive the secondary actuator when the secondary actuator is positionedunder the secondary guide slot, all as previously described, forexample, with reference to FIGS. 48-57 .

At a block 8030, the primary actuator is moved toward the front end ofthe outer housing to position the primary electrode at a first locationrelative to the reference point as previously described, for example,with reference to FIG. 53 . At a block 8040, the outer housing isrotated to expose the intermediate guide slot beneath the second guideslot as previously described, for example, with reference to FIG. 54 .At a block 8050, the secondary actuator is moved toward the front end ofthe outer housing to position the secondary electrode at a secondlocation relative to the reference point as previously described, forexample, with reference to FIG. 55 . The method 8000 ends at a block8055, with the electrodes now positioned for the administration oftreatment.

Referring to FIG. 81 , an illustrative method 8100 of positioningelectrodes for treatment is provided. The method 8100 relates to the useof a user interface as previously described, for example, with referenceto FIGS. 58-76 .

The method 8100 starts at a block 8105. At a block 8010, a sheath isextended, where the sheath contains a primary electrode and a secondaryelectrode slidably received within the primary electrode as previouslydescribed, for example, with reference to FIG. 61 .

At a block 8120, an apparatus coupled with the primary electrode and thesecondary electrode is deployed. The apparatus includes a secondaryelectrode slider mechanically coupled with a secondary electrode andsupporting a secondary actuator. The apparatus includes a lock rodconfigured to be fixed in a position relative to a reference point. Theapparatus also includes a primary housing mechanically coupled with aprimary electrode. The primary housing also includes an outward-facingguide slot configured to selectively limit and enable sliding movementof a guide member and a primary lock channel configured to rotatablyreceive the lock rod to prevent sliding movement of the primary housingrelative to the lock rod. The apparatus further includes a secondaryhousing mechanically coupled with a secondary electrode. The secondaryhousing further includes an inner channel configured to slidably androtatably receive the primary housing and supporting the guide member.The secondary housing also includes a secondary lock channel configuredto selectively one of fixably engage and slidably engage the lock rod.

At a block 8130, the secondary housing is successively slide and rotatedto move the secondary housing and the primary housing to move theprimary electrode and the secondary electrode to positions relative tothe reference point and the primary housing is slide to move the primaryelectrode, for example, with reference to FIGS. 65A-76 . The method 8000ends at a block 8035, with the electrodes now positioned for theadministration of treatment.

Referring to FIG. 82 , another embodiment of the user interface 8201 forpositioning electrodes is shown. The user interface 8201 includescomponents that are moved parallel along an axis 8221 or rotated along acurve 8223 around the axis 8221, as further described below. As alsofurther described below, the user interface 8201 generally is controlledby moving actuators, such as the primary actuator 8232, by engaging aprimary actuator grip 8235 through a first access opening 8211 definedin the outer housing 8210. The primary actuator 8232 may be moved alongthe axis 8221 by engaging and manipulating the primary actuator grip8235 and sliding the primary actuator grip 8235 along the axis 8221toward a first end 8241 of the housing 8210. The primary actuator 8232slides along a shaft 8233 that extends along the axis 8221. The shaft8233 may be coupled to the outer housing 8210 at a base 8234. The shaft8233 is hollow to receive and permit sliding of electrodes (not shown inFIG. 82 ) therethrough. As further described below, once the primaryactuator 8232 is moved to a position where the primary electrode isextended, the primary actuator 8232 may be rotated around the axis 8221to provide access to the secondary actuator (not shown in FIG. 82 ). Byshrouding the secondary electrode actuator, the primary actuator 8232prevents the secondary electrode actuator from being moved to extend thesecondary electrode before it is desired to do so. The structure andoperation of these components are further described below.

The user interface 8201 includes a coupling 8220 to engage a port on anelectrosurgical apparatus, such as a bronchoscope, as described withreference to FIGS. 1, 7, and 8 . The user interface 8201 also includes asheath actuator 8204 to position a sheath (not shown in FIG. 82 ) aspreviously described with reference to FIGS. 7-11 . The sheath actuator8204 includes a slidable sleeve 8212 and a sheath lock 8206 to engagethe slidable sleeve 8212 and secure the slidable sleeve 8212 in place atthe first end 8241 of the housing 8210 of the user interface 8201, asdescribed further below. It will be appreciated that, as described withreference to FIG. 35 regarding another embodiment of the user interface3501, a sheath actuator may be part of the bronchoscope or a separatedevice inserted between the user interface 8201 and the bronchoscope(not shown in FIG. 82 ). Thus, the sheath actuator 8204 may not be apart of the user interface 8201. Also, although not shown in FIG. 82 ,as in embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 11 , leads from a switchablecurrent source are received at the user interface 8201 and a sheathcontaining primary and secondary electrodes extends from the userinterface 8201 via the coupling 8220.

Referring to FIG. 83 , the user interface 8201 of FIG. 82 includes anumber of components, including the outer housing 8210, the primaryactuator 8232, the shaft 8233, a secondary actuator 8352, and componentsof the sheath actuator 8204, including the slidable sleeve 8212, thesheath lock 8206, and the coupling 8220. As previously described, thefirst access opening 8211 defined in the outer housing 8210 permitsaccess to the primary actuator 8232 and the second actuator 8352, theoperation of which will be further described below.

The primary actuator 8232, which may be manipulated by a user engagingthe primary actuator grip 8235, slides along the shaft 8233 which endsat the base 8234 that may be secured to the outer housing 8210 asfurther described below with reference to FIGS. 85A and 85B. The primaryactuator 8232 is fixably engaged with a primary electrode (not shown inFIG. 83 ) so that movement of the primary actuator 8232 moves theprimary electrode. The primary electrode may slide through the shaft8233 along which the primary actuator 8232 slides. In some embodiments,the shaft 8233 includes a channel 8334 that receives locking studs 8336configured to compressibly extend inwardly from the primary actuator8232 toward the shaft 8233. The engagement of the locking studs 8336with the channel 8334 may secure the primary actuator 8232 in placerelative to the shaft 8233 along the axis 8221 once the primary actuator8232 is moved to place the primary electrode (not shown in FIG. 83 ) ata desired position. In some embodiments, the locking studs 8336 may bereleased from the channel 8334 by exerting an additional force on theprimary actuator 8232 along the axis 8221, beyond the force that may berequired to slide the primary actuator 8232 along the shaft 8233 whenthe locking studs 8336 are not engaged with the channel 8334.

The secondary actuator 8352 is fixably engaged with a secondaryelectrode (not shown in FIG. 83 ) and causes the secondary electrode toslide through the shaft 8233. The secondary actuator 8352 includes asecondary actuator grip 8355 that enables a user to slide and/or rotatethe secondary actuator 8352, as described further below. The secondaryactuator 8352 is configured to slide relative to the primary actuator8232 just as the primary actuator 8232 slides along the shaft 8233. Thesecondary actuator 8352 may slide along the primary actuator 8232 alongthe axis 8221 and/or rotate along the curve 8232 around the axis 8221.As described further below, the secondary actuator 8352 defines a secondaccess opening 8356 so that, after rotating the secondary actuator 8352,a user may engage the primary actuator 8232 through the second accessopening 8355. Before it is rotated, the secondary actuator 8352 thus mayact as a shroud to prevent access to the primary actuator 8232 when thesecondary actuator 8352 is being positioned, thereby assisting a user infollowing a desired sequence of moving the electrodes, as describedfurther below.

Referring to FIG. 84A, in various embodiments there may be a singlefirst access opening 8211 on one side of the outer housing 8210, orthere may be multiple first access openings 8211 at two or more placesaround the periphery of the outer housing 8201. For example, the outerhousing 8410 of FIG. 84A includes two first access openings 8211 onopposing faces of the outer housing 8410.

Referring to FIG. 84B, in various embodiments the outer housing isgenerally hollow to receive the shaft 8233, the primary actuator 8232,and the secondary actuator 8352. As also shown in FIG. 84B, a pluralityof tabs 8413 are configured to engage notches in the base 8335 of theshaft 8233, as further described below with reference to FIGS. 85A and85B. Referring to FIG. 84C, in various embodiments the first accessopenings 8211 are defined by the outer housing 8210.

Referring to FIG. 85A, the shaft 8233 and its base 8335 are shown ingreater detail than in FIG. 83 . The channel 8334 (along the shaft 8233)receives the locking studs 8336 (not shown in FIG. 85A) which extendinwardly from the primary actuator 8232 (also not shown in FIG. 85A).Complementary notches 8515 are sized and positioned to receive the tabs8413 (FIG. 84B) of the outer housing 8410. The shaft 8233 defines achannel 8517 through which the electrodes (not shown) coupled with theprimary actuator 8232 and the secondary actuator 8352 may slide.

Referring to FIG. 86A, the primary actuator 8232 supports the primaryactuator grip 8235 and the locking studs 8336 that are configured toengage the channel 8334 of the shaft 8233 (FIGS. 82, 83, and 85A).Referring to FIG. 86B, in various embodiments multiple primary actuatorgrips 8235 may extend from the primary actuator 8232. In the example ofFIG. 86A, two primary actuator grips 8235 extend from opposing sides ofthe primary actuator 8232. Having two primary actuator grips 8235extending from opposing sides of the primary actuator 8232, for example,would allow a user to manipulate the primary actuator from two sides ofthe user interface if there are two first access openings 8211 definedin opposing sides of the outer housing 8210, such as shown in theexample of FIGS. 84A and 84C, and two second access openings 8356defined in opposing sides of the secondary actuator 8352.

Still referring to FIG. 86B, the primary actuator 8232 also may includegrooves 8611 configured to receive guide projections extending inwardlyfrom the secondary actuator 8352, as further described below. Referringto FIG. 86C, in some embodiments the grooves 8611 may be formed in twoopposing sides of the primary actuator 8232 as shown. In variousembodiments the locking studs 8336 extend inwardly from the primaryactuator 8232 into a primary actuator channel 8619 that is configured toenable the primary actuator 8232 to slide along the shaft 8233.

Referring to FIG. 87A, a detailed view of the secondary actuator 8352 isshown. The secondary actuator 8352 includes the secondary actuator grip8355 and, in the example shown, a pair of second access openings 8356.Referring to FIG. 87B, in various embodiments multiple secondaryactuator grips 8355 may extend from the secondary actuator 8352. In theexample of FIG. 87B, two secondary actuator grips 8355 extend fromopposing sides of the secondary actuator 8352. Having two secondaryactuator grips 8355 extending from opposing sides of the secondaryactuator 8352, for example, would allow a user to manipulate thesecondary actuator 8352 from two sides of the user interface if thereare two first access openings 8211 in opposing sides of the outerhousing 8210, such as shown in the example of FIG. 84A. Correspondingly,a pair of second access openings 8356 are defined in the secondaryactuator 8352 that, for example, would enable a user to engage a pair ofprimary actuator grips 8235 through the pair of second access openings8356.

Referring to FIG. 87C, in various embodiments the secondary actuator8352 also may include tabs 8757 inwardly extending into a hollow channel8719 of the secondary actuator 8352. The tabs are configured to slidablyengage the grooves 8611 in the primary actuator 8232. It will beappreciated that the grooves 8611 in the primary actuator 8432 extendonly part of the length of the primary actuator 8432. As a result, withthe tabs 8757 on the secondary actuator 8352 received into the grooves8611 on the primary actuator 8232, when the tabs 8757 are at a closedend 8612 of the grooves 8611, movement of the primary actuator 8232toward an open end 8613 of the grooves 8611 may pull the secondaryactuator 8352 with the primary actuator 8232. The engagement of the tabs8757 with the grooves 8611 thus may cause the primary actuator 8232 tocause the secondary actuator 8352 to move in concert with the primaryactuator 8232 and, thus, cause the secondary electrode to move inconcert with the primary electrode, as further described below withreference to FIG. 90A.

Referring to FIG. 87D, in various embodiments the secondary actuatorgrips 8355 extend from sides of the secondary actuator 8352 at aninety-degree offset to the second access openings 8356 formed in thesecondary actuator 8532.

Referring to FIGS. 88A, 88B, 89A, and 89A, operation of the sheathactuator 8204 is depicted. The operation of the sheath actuator 8204 ofthe user interface 8201 is similar to that of the sheath actuator 4804of the user interface 4801 of FIGS. 50A, 50B, 51C, and 51D, aspreviously described. Referring to FIGS. 88A and 88B and as used inconjunction with a user interface 8201, the sheath actuator 8204controls a position of the sheath 103. Specifically, a position of thesheath 103 is controlled by sliding the slidable sleeve 8212 within thecoupling 8220 and securing the sheath 103 at the desired location bysecuring the slidable sleeve 8212 with the sheath lock 8206. The sheathactuator 8204 may operate similarly to the sheath lock 706 of FIG. 9 ,as previously described. The slidable sleeve 8212 is fixably mounted tothe outer housing 8210 and is slidably received within the coupling8220. When the slidable sleeve 8212 is situated to position the sheath103 containing the electrodes 207 and 211 at a desired location, thesheath lock 8206 is locked to secure the slidable sleeve 8212 in place.The sheath lock 8206 may be a spring-loaded lock, a thumbscrew, oranother similar mechanism as previously described with reference toFIGS. 7-10 to secure the slidable sleeve 8212 in place to secure theposition of the sheath 103.

As previously described and as shown in the FIG. 88B, in illustrativeembodiments the secondary electrode 211 is received within the primaryelectrode, with a distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211initially resting just within the distal end 209 of the primaryelectrode 207. In turn, the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207rests just within the distal end 105 of the sheath 103. Before thesheath actuator 8204 is used to position the distal end 105 of thesheath 103 near the reference point 201, the distal end of the sheath103 may initially rest at a position away from or immediately adjacentto the reference point 201.

Referring to FIGS. 89A and 89B and as used in conjunction with a userinterface 8201, the sheath actuator 8204 is used to move the distal end105 of the sheath 103 to a position closer to the reference point 201 asshown in FIG. 89B. A relative movement of the outer housing 8210 towardthe coupling 8220 by a distance 8919 moves the distal end 105 of thesheath 103 a corresponding distance to move the distal end 105 of thesheath 103 closer to the reference point 201. In turn, the distal end209 of the primary electrode 207 and the distal end 213 of the secondaryelectrode 211 are also moved closer to the reference point 201. Therelative movement of the outer housing 8210 toward the coupling 8220 isaccomplished by the slidable sleeve 8212 being at least partiallyreceived within the coupling 8220 and then secured with the sheath lock8206, as previously described. As shown in FIG. 89B, the distal end 209of the primary electrode 207 remains positioned within a distal end 105of the sheath 103, with the distal end 105 of the sheath 103 having beenpositioned proximate the reference point 201. The distal end 213 of thesecondary electrode 211 remains positioned within the distal end 209 ofthe primary electrode 207.

FIGS. 90A, 90B, 91A, and 91B show how the user interface 8201 moves theelectrodes 207 and 211 based on manipulation of the user interface 8201.Referring to FIG. 90A, the primary actuator 8232 is advanced toward thefirst end 8241 of the outer housing 8210, such as by a user engaging theprimary actuator grip 8235 and sliding it in a direction 9023. Aspreviously described with reference to FIG. 87C, the tabs 8757 on thesecondary actuator 8352 engage the grooves 8611 on the primary actuator8232. Thus, the movement of the primary actuator 8232 toward the firstend 8241 of the outer housing 8210 also advances the secondary actuator8352, as shown in FIG. 90A. As a result, after extension of the primaryelectrode caused by the movement of the primary actuator 8232, thesecondary actuator 8352 is drawn into the first access opening 8211where the secondary actuator grip 8355 may be engaged by a user to movethe secondary actuator 8352. The outer housing 8210 thus shrouds thesecondary actuator 8352 until the primary actuator 8232 is moved into aposition appropriate for movement of the secondary actuator 8352. Also,in some embodiments, once the primary actuator 8232 has been movedforward, the locking studs 8333 engage the channel 8334 in the shaft8333 (not shown in FIG. 90A), thereby holding the primary actuator 8232(and the primary electrode) in place.

Referring to FIG. 90B, the movement of the primary actuator 8232 and theconcerted movement of the secondary actuator 8352 shown in FIG. 90Aresults in concerted movement of the primary electrode 207 and thesecondary electrode 211, moving in concert the distal ends 209 and 213,respectively, beyond the distal end 105 of the sheath 103. In theexample of FIG. 90B, the primary electrode 207 and the secondaryelectrode 211 contained therein pierce the target tissue 202 near thereference point 201.

Referring to FIG. 91A, the secondary actuator 8352 is advanced towardthe first end 8241 of the outer housing 8210 in a direction 9123. Thesecondary actuator 8352 passes over the primary actuator 8232 within theouter housing 8210. As will be recalled, the engagement of the tabs 8757with the grooves 8611 on the primary actuator 8232 caused the forwardmovement of the primary actuator 8232 shown in FIG. 90A to draw thesecondary actuator 8352 forward in concert. However, because the tabs8757 in the secondary actuator can move independently in the grooves8611 toward the open ends 8613, the secondary actuator 8352 may movetoward the first end 8241 of the outer housing 8210 independently of theprimary actuator 8232.

Referring to FIG. 91B, the movement of the secondary actuator 8352results in movement of the secondary electrode 211 independently of theprimary electrode 207. As previously described, when the distal end 213of the secondary electrode 211 extends beyond the distal end 209 of theprimary electrode 207, the secondary electrode coils, thereby augeringinto the target tissue 202.

Referring to FIG. 92A, now that the secondary electrode 211 (FIG. 91B)has been extended, the secondary actuator 8352 may be manipulated tounshroud the primary actuator 8232 to enable further manipulation of theprimary actuator 8232 and, thus, the primary electrode 207. With thesecondary actuator 8352 advanced, the tabs 8757 (which extend inwardlyfrom the secondary actuator 8352) pass out of the grooves 8611 on theprimary actuator 8232, thereby allowing the secondary actuator 8352 tobe rotated relative to the primary actuator 8232 as shown in FIG. 92A.The secondary actuator 8352 is rotated along a curve 9223, presentingthe second access opening 8355 defined by the secondary actuator 8232and exposing the primary actuator 8232 and the primary actuator grip8235.

Referring to FIG. 92B, the rotation of the secondary electrode actuator8352 does not move either the primary electrode 207 or the secondaryelectrode 211. The rotation of the secondary actuator 8352 merelyprepares the user interface 8201 for a next step in positioning theelectrodes 207 and 211. The rotation of the secondary actuator 8352unshrouds the primary actuator 8232 for its next movement.

Referring to FIG. 93A, the primary actuator 8232 is moved in a direction9323 away from the first end 8241 of the outer housing 8210 to cause apartial retraction of the primary electrode 207. A user may engage theprimary actuator grip 8235 through the second access opening 8355 tomanipulate the primary actuator 8232. Some additional force may have tobe applied to the primary actuator grip 8235 to cause the locking studs(not shown in FIG. 93A) to be withdrawn from the channel 8334 in theshaft 8333 to enable the primary actuator 8232 to move over the shaft8333.

Referring to FIG. 93B, the movement of the primary actuator 8232 resultsin a partial retraction of the primary electrode 207 withoutcommensurate movement of the secondary electrode 211. Thus, the distalend 213 of the secondary electrode 211 remains coiled in the targettissue 202 where the distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 waspositioned at the end of the step described with reference to FIGS. 91Aand 91B. However, the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207 ismoved away from the distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211,exposing an insulated section 215 of the primary electrode 211 andcreating two, electrically separated contacts with the distal ends 209and 213 of the electrodes 207 and 211 being separated by the insulation215.

Referring to FIG. 94 , another embodiment of the user interface 9401 forpositioning electrodes is shown. The user interface 9401 includescomponents that are moved parallel with an axis 9421 or rotated along acurve 9423 around the axis 9421, as further described below. As alsofurther described below, the user interface 9401 generally is controlledby moving actuators, such as the primary actuator 9432, by engaging aprimary actuator grip 9435 that extends from a first channel 9431defined in an outer housing 9410. The primary actuator 9432 may be movedalong the axis 9421 by engaging and manipulating the primary actuatorgrip 9435 and sliding the primary actuator grip 9435 along the axis 9421toward a first end 9441 of the housing 9410. As further described below,once the primary actuator 9432 is moved to a position where the primaryelectrode is extended, the primary actuator 9432 may be rotated aroundthe axis 9421 to provide access to the secondary actuator (not shown inFIG. 94 ). By shrouding the secondary electrode actuator, the outerhousing 9410 prevents the secondary electrode actuator from being movedto extend the secondary electrode before it is desired to do so. Thestructure and operation of these components are further described below.

The user interface 9401 includes a coupling 9420 to engage a port on anelectrosurgical apparatus, such as a bronchoscope, as described withreference to FIGS. 1, 7, and 8 . The user interface 9401 also includes asheath actuator 9404 to position a sheath (not shown in FIG. 94 ) aspreviously described with reference to FIGS. 7-11 . The sheath actuator9404 includes a slidable sleeve 9412 and a sheath lock 9406 to engagethe slidable sleeve 9412 and secure the slidable sleeve 9412 in place atthe first end 9441 of the housing 9410 of the user interface 9401, asdescribed further below. It will be appreciated that, as described withreference to FIG. 35 regarding another embodiment of the user interface3501, a sheath actuator may be part of the bronchoscope or a separatedevice inserted between the user interface 9401 and the bronchoscope(not shown in FIG. 94 ). Thus, the sheath actuator 9404 may not be apart of the user interface 9401. Also, although not shown in FIG. 94 ,as in embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 11 , leads from a switchablecurrent source are received at the user interface 9401 and a sheath(that contains primary and secondary electrodes) extends from the userinterface 9401 via the coupling 9420.

Referring to FIG. 95 , the user interface 9401 includes a number ofcomponents, including the outer housing 9410, the primary actuator 9432,a secondary actuator 9552, and components of the sheath actuator 9404,including the slidable sleeve 9412, the sheath lock 9406, and thecoupling 9420. Movement of the primary actuator 9432 provides access tothe secondary actuator 9552 and a secondary actuator grip 9555 when theprimary actuator 9432 has been positioned as desired.

The primary actuator 9432, which may be manipulated by a user engagingthe primary actuator grip 9435, slides and rotates within the outerhousing 9410 as further described below with reference to FIGS. 99A and100A. The primary actuator 9432 is fixably engaged with a primaryelectrode (not shown in FIG. 95 ) so that movement of the primaryactuator 9432 moves the primary electrode. The secondary actuator 9552is fixably engaged with a secondary electrode (not shown in FIG. 95 )and causes the secondary electrode to move. The secondary actuator 9552includes a secondary actuator grip 9555 that enables a user to slide thesecondary actuator 9552, as described further below.

The secondary actuator grip 9555 moves within a second channel 9531 inthe primary actuator 9432. As a result, and as will be further describedbelow, only when the primary actuator 9432 has been moved to positionthe primary electrode at a desired location can the primary actuator9432 be further moved to expose the second channel 9531 and thesecondary actuator grip 9555. Thus, the secondary actuator 9552 can onlybe moved once the primary actuator 9432 has been moved to a prerequisiteposition, with the outer housing 9410 shrouding the secondary electrodeactuator 9532 until a preceding step to be performed with the primaryactuator 9432 is first accomplished.

Referring to FIGS. 96A, 96B, 97A, and 97B, operation of the sheathactuator 9404 is depicted. The operation of the sheath actuator 9404 ofthe user interface 9401 is very similar to that of the sheath actuator8204 of the user interface 8201 of FIGS. 88A, 89A, 90A, and 90B andother sheath actuators, as previously described. Referring to FIGS. 96Aand 96B and as used in conjunction with a user interface 9401, thesheath actuator 9404 controls a position of the sheath 103.Specifically, a position of the sheath 103 is controlled by sliding theslidable sleeve 9412 within the coupling 9420 and securing the sheath103 at the desired location by securing the slidable sleeve 9412 withthe sheath lock 9406. The sheath actuator 9404 may operate similarly tothe sheath lock 706 of FIG. 9 , as previously described. The slidablesleeve 9412 is fixably mounted to the outer housing 9410 and is slidablyreceived within the coupling 9420. When the slidable sleeve 9412 issituated to position the sheath 103 containing the electrodes 207 and211 at a desired location, the sheath lock 9406 is locked to secure theslidable sleeve 9412 in place. The sheath lock 9406 may be aspring-loaded lock, a thumbscrew, or another similar mechanism aspreviously described with reference to FIGS. 7-10 to secure the slidablesleeve 9412 in place to secure the position of the sheath 103.

As previously described and as shown in FIG. 96B, in illustrativeembodiments the secondary electrode 211 is received within the primaryelectrode, with a distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211initially resting just within the distal end 209 of the primaryelectrode 207. In turn, the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207rests just within the distal end 105 of the sheath 103. Before thesheath actuator 8204 is used to position the distal end 105 of thesheath 103 near the reference point 201, the distal end of the sheath103 may initially rest at a position away from or immediately adjacentto the reference point 201.

Referring to FIGS. 97A and 97B and as used in conjunction with a userinterface 9401, the sheath actuator 9404 is used to move the distal end105 of the sheath 103 to a position closer to the reference point 201 asshown in FIG. 97B. A relative movement of the outer housing 9410 towardthe coupling 9420 by a distance 9719 moves the distal end 105 of thesheath 103 a corresponding distance to move the distal end 105 of thesheath 103 closer to the reference point 201. In turn, the distal end209 of the primary electrode 207 and the distal end 213 of the secondaryelectrode 211 are also moved closer to the reference point 201. Therelative movement of the outer housing 9410 toward the coupling 9420 isaccomplished by the slidable sleeve 9412 being at least partiallyreceived within the coupling 9420 and then secured with the sheath lock9406, as previously described. As shown in FIG. 97B, the distal end 209of the primary electrode 207 remains positioned within a distal end 105of the sheath 103, with the distal end 105 of the sheath 103 having beenpositioned proximate the reference point 201. The distal end 213 of thesecondary electrode 211 remains positioned within the distal end 209 ofthe primary electrode 207.

FIGS. 98A-101C show how the user interface 9401 moves the electrodes 207and 211 based on manipulation of the user interface 4801. Referring toFIG. 98A with regard to the user interface 9401, the primary actuatorgrip 9435 extends from the primary actuator 9432 upward through thefirst channel 9431 of the outer housing 9410 and is situated at aninitial position at a rear end 9801 within the first channel 9431.Referring to FIG. 98B, the primary actuator grip 9435 extends from theprimary actuator 9432 through the first channel 9431 in the outerhousing 9410. At the point of the cross-section, the secondary channel9531 remains shrouded by the outer housing 9410. Also, with the primaryactuator 9432 in an initial position, as shown in FIG. 98C, the distalend 209 of the primary electrode 207 remains positioned within a distalend 105 of the sheath 103, with the distal end 105 of the sheath 103having been positioned proximate the reference point 201. The distal end213 of the secondary electrode 211 remains positioned within the distalend 209 of the primary electrode 207.

Referring to FIG. 99A, the primary actuator 9432 is moved to extend theprimary electrode 207, such as by the user engaging the primaryelectrode grip 9435 and sliding toward the first end 9441 of the outerhousing 9410. Referring to FIG. 99B, the primary actuator grip 9435extends from the primary actuator 9432 through the first channel 9431 inthe outer housing 9410. Also, as in FIG. 98B, the secondary channel 9531remains shrouded by the outer housing 9410.

Referring to FIG. 99C, the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207is extended beyond the distal end 105 of the sheath 103, with the distalend 209 piercing the target tissue 202 near the reference point 201. Thedistal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 remains positioned withinthe distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207. The secondary electrode211 moves with primary electrode 207 because, as shown in FIG. 100A, thesecondary actuator grip 9555 initially rests at a rearward end 9557(FIG. 95 ) of the secondary channel 9531. Thus, the movement of theprimary actuator 9432 toward the first end 9441 of the outer housing9410 also moves the secondary actuator 9552 toward the first end 9441 ofthe outer housing 9410. This concerted movement of the primary actuator9432 and the secondary actuator 9552 results in the concerted movementof the primary electrode 207 and the secondary electrode 211.

Referring to FIG. 100A, the primary actuator 9432 is rotated along acurve 10023. The movement of the primary actuator 9432 relative to theouter housing 9410 results in exposure of the secondary channel 9531 inthe primary actuator 9432 and the secondary actuator grip 9555. Aspreviously described, the secondary actuator grip 9555 rests at arearward edge 9557 of the secondary channel 9531, so that the slidingmovement of the primary actuator 9432 to extend the primary electrode207 described with reference to FIGS. 99A and 99C also results in thesliding movement of the secondary electrode 211. Now, with the primaryelectrode 207 extended as described with reference to FIG. 99C, thesecondary actuator grip 9555 is exposed so that the secondary electrode211 may be separately extended, as further described below withreference to FIGS. 101A-101C.

Referring to FIG. 100B, the primary actuator grip 9435 has been movedacross the first channel 9431 and the secondary channel 9531 (which isdefined by the primary actuator 9432 and unshrouded by the primaryactuator 9432 being moved relative to the outer housing 9410). Referringto FIG. 100C, the distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 remainspositioned within the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207 at thepositions to which the distal ends 209 and 213 were positioned at shownin FIG. 99C. The rotational movement of the primary actuator grip 9435thus unshrouds the secondary actuator grip 9555 and the secondarychannel 9531 for a next step, but does not result in movement of theelectrodes 207 and 211.

Referring to FIG. 101A, the secondary actuator 9552 is advanced towardthe first end 9441 of the outer housing 9410 in a direction 9123, suchas by a user sliding the secondary actuator grip 9555 toward the firstend 9441 of the outer housing 9410. Referring to FIG. 101B, thesecondary actuator grip 9555 is advanced to a position within thesecondary channel 9531 and the primary channel 9431 alongside theprimary actuator grip 9435. Referring to FIG. 101C, the distal end 213of the secondary electrode 211 is in its extended position beyond thedistal end 209 of the primary electrode 207, where the distal end 213 ofsecondary electrode 211 augers into the target tissue 202, as previouslydescribed with reference to other embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 102 , another embodiment of the user interface 10201for positioning electrodes is shown. The user interface 10201 includescomponents that are moved parallel with an axis 10221 or rotated along acurve 10223 around the axis 10221, as further described below. As alsofurther described below, the user interface 10201 generally iscontrolled by moving actuators, such as the primary actuator 10232, byengaging a primary actuator grip 10235 that extends from a first channel10231 defined in an outer housing 10210. The primary actuator 10232 maybe moved along the axis 10221 by engaging and manipulating the primaryactuator grip 10235 and sliding the primary actuator grip 10235 alongthe axis 10221 toward a first end 10241 of the housing 10210. As furtherdescribed below, once the primary actuator 10232 is moved to a positionwhere the primary electrode is extended, the primary actuator 10232 maybe rotated around the axis 10221 to provide access to the secondaryactuator (not shown in FIG. 102 ). By shrouding the secondary electrodeactuator, the outer housing 10210 prevents the secondary electrodeactuator from being moved to extend the secondary electrode before it isdesired to do so.

Although the embodiment of the user interface 10201 has somesimilarities with the user interface 9401 of FIGS. 94-101C, the userinterface 10201 includes features that permit further movement of theprimary actuator 10232. The structure of these components and operationof these features are further described below.

The user interface 10201 includes a coupling 10220 to engage a port onan electrosurgical apparatus, such as a bronchoscope, as described withreference to FIGS. 1, 7, and 8 . In various embodiments the userinterface 10201 also includes a sheath actuator 10204 configured toposition a sheath (not shown in FIG. 102 ) as previously described withreference to FIGS. 7-11 . The sheath actuator 10204 includes a slidablesleeve 10212 and a sheath lock 10206 configured to engage the slidablesleeve 10212 and secure the slidable sleeve 10212 in place at the firstend 10241 of the housing 10210, as described further below. It will beappreciated that, as described with reference to FIG. 35 regardinganother embodiment of the user interface 3501, a sheath actuator may bepart of the bronchoscope or a separate device inserted between the userinterface 10201 and the bronchoscope (not shown in FIG. 102 ). Thus, insome embodiments the sheath actuator 10204 may not be a part of the userinterface 10201. Also, although not shown in FIG. 102 , as inembodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 11 , leads from a switchable currentsource are received at the user interface 10201 and a sheath (thatcontains primary and secondary electrodes) extends from the userinterface 10201 via the coupling 10220.

Referring to FIG. 103 , the user interface 10201 includes a number ofcomponents, including the outer housing 10210, the primary actuator10232, a secondary actuator 10352, and components of the sheath actuator10204, including the slidable sleeve 10212, the sheath lock 10206, andthe coupling 10220. Movement of the primary actuator 10232 providesaccess to the secondary actuator 10352 and a secondary actuator grip10355 when the primary actuator 10232 has been positioned as desired.Operation of the sheath actuator 10204 and its components is the same asthe operation of the sheath actuator 9404 as previously described withreference to FIGS. 96A, 96B, 97A, and 97B.

The primary actuator 10232, which may be manipulated by a user engagingthe primary actuator grip 10235, slides and rotates within the outerhousing 10210 as further described below with reference to FIGS. 104A,105A, 107A, and 108A. The primary actuator 10232 is engaged with aprimary electrode (not shown in FIG. 103 ) so that movement of theprimary actuator 10232 moves the primary electrode. The secondaryactuator 10352 is engaged with a secondary electrode (not shown in FIG.103 ) and causes the secondary electrode to move. The secondary actuator10352 includes a secondary actuator grip 10355 that enables a user toslide the secondary actuator 10352, as described further below.

The secondary actuator grip 10355 moves within a second channel 10331 inthe primary actuator 10232. As a result, and as will be furtherdescribed below, only when the primary actuator 10232 has been moved toposition the primary electrode at a desired location can the primaryactuator 10232 be further moved to expose the second channel 10331 andthe secondary actuator grip 10355. Thus, the secondary actuator 10352can only be moved once the primary actuator 10232 has been moved to aprerequisite position, with the outer housing 10210 shrouding thesecondary electrode actuator 10332 until a preceding step to beperformed with the primary actuator 10232 is first accomplished. As willbe further described below, the primary actuator 10232 is first movedand then rotated in order to unshroud the secondary actuator grip 10355to enable movement of the secondary actuator 10332.

As previously described with reference to FIG. 102 , operation of theuser interface 10201 shares similarities with the user interface 9401 ofFIGS. 94-101C. Accordingly, FIGS. 104A and 104C show the user interface10201 as it has been manipulated to move the electrodes 207 and 211 toextend the distal ends 209 and 213, respectively, to a first positioncomparable to that shown based on manipulation of the user interface4801. Referring to FIG. 104B, the primary actuator grip 10235 extendsfrom the primary actuator 10232 through the first channel 10231. Also,as in FIG. 104B, the secondary channel 10331 remains shrouded by theouter housing 10210.

Referring to FIG. 104C, the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207is extended beyond the distal end 105 of the sheath 103, with the distalend 209 piercing the target tissue 202 near the reference point 201. Thedistal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 remains positioned withinthe distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207. The secondary electrode211 moves with primary electrode 207 because, as shown in FIG. 105A, thesecondary actuator grip 10355 initially rests at a rearward end 10357(FIG. 103 ) of the secondary channel 10331. Thus, the movement of theprimary actuator 10232 toward the first end 10241 of the outer housing10210 also moves the secondary actuator 10352 toward the first end 10241of the outer housing 10210. This concerted movement of the primaryactuator 10232 and the secondary actuator 10352 results in the concertedmovement of the primary electrode 207 and the secondary electrode 211.

Referring to FIG. 105A, the primary actuator 10232 is rotated along acurve 10523. The movement of the primary actuator 10232 relative to theouter housing 10210 results in exposure of the secondary channel 1033land the secondary actuator grip 10355. As previously described, thesecondary actuator grip 10355 rests at a rearward edge 10357 of thesecondary channel 10331, so that the sliding movement of the primaryactuator 10232 to extend the primary electrode 207 described withreference to FIGS. 104A and 104C also results in the sliding movement ofthe secondary electrode 211. Now, with the primary electrode 207extended as described with reference to FIG. 104C, the secondaryactuator grip 10355 is exposed so that the secondary electrode 211 maybe separately extended, as further described below with reference toFIGS. 106A-108C.

Referring to FIG. 105B, the primary actuator grip 10235 has been movedacross the first channel 10231 and the secondary channel 10331 (whichhas been defined by the primary actuator 10232 being unshrouded by theouter housing 10210). Referring to FIG. 105C, the distal end 213 of thesecondary electrode 211 remains positioned within the distal end 209 ofthe primary electrode 207 at the positions to which the distal ends 209and 213 were positioned at shown in FIG. 104C. The rotational movementof the primary actuator grip 10255 thus unshrouds the secondary actuatorgrip 10355 for a next step, but does not result in movement of theelectrodes 207 and 211.

In some embodiments of the user interface 10201, as, for example, someembodiments of the user interface 4801 of FIGS. 48-57C, the secondaryactuator grip 10555 may be spring-loaded by a compressible element 10561so that, when the secondary channel 10531 and secondary grip actuator10555 are unshrouded, the secondary grip actuator 10555 extendsoutwardly from the secondary actuator 10552. As also described withreference to FIG. 56B, the outer housing 10210 may incorporate a ramp10559 along at least a portion of the primary channel 10231 to make theextension of the secondary actuator grip 10555 gradual as the secondaryactuator 10555 is exposed and/or to aid in compressing the secondaryactuator grip 10555 when the steps described with reference FIGS.104A-108C are reversed to retract the electrodes 207 and 211. It will beappreciated that such a spring-loaded secondary actuator gripconfiguration could be employed, although not expressly shown, withreference to the user interface 9401 of FIGS. 94-101C.

Referring to FIG. 106A, the secondary actuator 10352 is advanced towardthe first end 10241 of the outer housing 10210 in a direction 10623,such as by a user sliding the secondary actuator grip 10355 toward thefirst end 10241 of the outer housing 10210. Referring to FIG. 101B, thesecondary actuator grip 10355 is advanced to a position within thesecondary channel 10331 and the primary channel 10231 alongside theprimary actuator grip 10235. Referring to FIG. 101C, the distal end 213of the secondary electrode 211 is shown in its extended position beyondthe distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207, where the distal end213 of secondary electrode 211 augers into the target tissue 202, aspreviously described with reference to other embodiments.

In contrast to the user interface 9401 of FIGS. 94-101C, the userinterface 10201 provides for partial retraction of the primary electrode207, similar to the partial retraction of the primary electrode asdescribed, for example, with reference to the user interface 8201described with reference to FIGS. 82-93B.

Referring to FIG. 107A, the primary actuator 10232 and the secondaryactuator 10352 are rotated across the primary channel 10231 along acurve 10723, such as by a user engaging the primary actuator grip 10235or the secondary actuator grip 10355 and sliding them across the primarychannel 10231. Referring to FIG. 107B, the secondary actuator grip 10355is advanced to a position within the secondary channel 10331 and theprimary channel 10231 alongside the primary actuator grip 10235, butthis time both the primary actuator grip 10235 and the secondaryactuator grip 10355 are moved across the primary channel 10231.

Referring to FIG. 107C, the rotation of the primary actuator 10232 andthe secondary actuator 10352 does not move either the primary electrode207 or the secondary electrode 211. The rotation of the primary actuator10232 and the secondary actuator 10352 merely prepares the userinterface 10201 for a next step in positioning the electrodes 207 and211.

Referring to FIG. 108A, the primary actuator 10232 is moved in adirection 10823 away from the first end 10241 of the outer housing 10210to cause a partial retraction of the primary electrode 207. A user mayengage the primary actuator grip 10235 to manipulate the primaryactuator 10232 to slide it in the direction 10823. Referring to FIG.108B, the secondary actuator grip 10355 is positioned within thesecondary channel 10331 and the primary channel 10231 alongside theprimary actuator grip 10235, where there positions partially overlapacross the primary channel 10231 as shown in FIG. 108A.

Referring to FIG. 108C, the movement of the primary actuator 10232results in a partial retraction of the primary electrode 207 withoutcommensurate movement of the secondary electrode 211. Thus, the distalend 213 of the secondary electrode 211 remains coiled in the targettissue 202 where the distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 waspositioned at the end of the step described with reference to FIGS. 106Cand 107C. However, the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207 ismoved away from the distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211,thereby exposing an insulated section 215 of the primary electrode 211and creating two electrically separated contacts with the distal ends209 and 213 of the electrodes 207 and 211 being separated by theinsulated section 215.

Referring to FIG. 109 , another embodiment of a user interface 10901 isshown. The user interface 10901 has similarities to the user interface9401 described with reference to FIGS. 94-101C. Although the userinterface 10901 has some similarities with the user interface 9401 ofFIGS. 94-101C, the user interface 10901 includes one or more lockingfeatures that may be used to restrict movement of the actuators and theelectrodes. The structure of these components and operation of thesefeatures are further described below

Still referring to FIG. 109 , the user interface 10901 includescomponents that are moved parallel with an axis 10921 or rotated along acurve 10923 around the axis 10921, as further described below. As alsofurther described below, the user interface 10901 generally iscontrolled by moving actuators, such as a primary actuator 10932, byengaging a primary actuator grip 10935 that extends from a first channel10931 defined in an outer housing 10910. The primary actuator 10932 maybe moved along the axis 10921 by engaging and manipulating the primaryactuator grip 10935 and sliding the primary actuator grip 10935 alongthe axis 10921 toward a first end 10241 of the housing 10210.

In contrast to the user interface 9401, however, before the primaryactuator 10932 may be advanced, the primary actuator grip 10935 isdepressed to cause the primary actuator grip 10925 to be rotated at apivot 10938 (that is secured to the primary actuator 10932) to unlockmovement of the primary actuator 10932, as further described withreference to FIG. 110 . After the primary actuator 10932 is moved to adesired position in moving the primary electrode (not shown in FIG. 109), the primary actuator grip 10935 may be released to relock the primaryactuator 10932 in place. As further described below, once the primaryactuator 10932 is moved to a position where the primary electrode isextended, the primary actuator 10932 may be rotated around the axis10921 to provide access to the secondary actuator (not shown in FIG. 109). By shrouding the secondary actuator, the outer housing 10910 preventsthe secondary actuator from being moved to extend the secondaryelectrode before it is desired to do so.

Referring to FIG. 110 , in various embodiments, a primary actuator grip10935 is rotatably mounted to the primary actuator 10932 at a pivot10938. The pivot 10938 may be spring-loaded. At a resting position atshown in FIG. 110 , a latch 11037 on the primary actuator grip 10932engages a notch 11072 in a locking structure 11070 in the user interface10901. The engagement of the latch 11037 with the notch 11072 preventssliding of the primary actuator 10932 until the primary actuator grip10935 is depressed to disengage the latch 11037 from the notch 11072.The rotatable locking mechanism of the primary actuator grip 10935 isone example of a locking mechanism that may be used with embodiments ofthe user interface 10901. Translating, sliding, or other lockingmechanisms also may be used to lock the primary actuator 10932 atdesired locations.

Referring to FIG. 111 , the user interface 10901 includes a number ofcomponents, including the outer housing 10910, the primary actuator10932, a secondary actuator 11152, the locking structure 11072, andcomponents of the sheath actuator 10904, including the slidable sleeve10912, the sheath lock 10906, and the coupling 10920. Operation of thesheath actuator 10904 may be similar to operation of the sheathactuators previously described, such as in the operation of the sheathactuator 9404 of the user interface 9401 described with reference toFIGS. 96A-97B.

Movement of the primary actuator 10932 may provide access to thesecondary actuator 11152 and a secondary actuator grip 11155 when theprimary actuator 10932 has been positioned as desired. The primaryactuator 10932, which may be manipulated by a user engaging the primaryactuator grip 10935, slides and rotates within the outer housing 10910,similar to the description of operation of the user interface 9401 asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 99A and 100A. The primary actuator10932 is engaged with a primary electrode (not shown in FIG. 111 ) sothat movement of the primary actuator 10932 moves the primary electrode.The secondary actuator 11152 is engaged with a secondary electrode (notshown in FIG. 111 ) and causes the secondary electrode to move. Thesecondary actuator 11152 includes a secondary actuator grip 11155 thatenables a user to slide the secondary actuator 11152. The secondaryactuator grip 11155 may also be configured with a locking mechanism

The secondary actuator grip 11155 moves within a second channel 11131 inthe primary actuator 10932. As a result, and as previously describedwith reference to similar embodiments, only when the primary actuator10932 has been moved to position the primary electrode at a desiredlocation can the primary actuator 10932 be further moved to expose thesecond channel 11131 and the secondary actuator grip 11155. Thus, thesecondary actuator 11152 can only be moved once the primary actuator10932 has been moved to a prerequisite position, with the outer housing10910 shrouding the secondary electrode actuator 11132 until a precedingstep to be performed with the primary actuator 10932 is firstaccomplished. As previously described, the primary actuator 10932 may befirst moved and then rotated in order to unshroud the secondary actuatorgrip 11155 to enable movement of the secondary actuator 11132.

Unlike previously described embodiments, however, the user interface10901 includes the locking structure 11070 which may include the notch11072 as previously described and one or more other notches 11174 topermit the primary actuator 10932 to be locked with the primaryelectrode (not shown in FIG. 110 ) at an initial position and anextended position. If the user interface 10901 is adapted to facilitatepartial retraction of the primary electrode after the secondaryelectrode has been extended (as described, for example, with referenceto the user interface 10201 of FIGS. 102-108C), another notch may beincluded in the locking structure to secure the primary electrode in apartially retracted position. The locking structure 11070 may representa separate body fixably secured with the outer housing 10910 or may beintegrated within the outer housing 10910 to secure the primary actuator10932 at desired positions. In the embodiment of the locking structure11070, it should be noted that the notches 11072 and 11074 are elongatedperpendicular to the axis 10921 (FIG. 109 ) so that the latch 11037(FIG. 110 ) and, thus, the primary actuator grip 10935 and the primaryactuator 10932 may rotate relative to the axis even when the latch 11037engages one of the notches 11072 or 11174 to, for example, expose thesecondary actuator grip 11155.

Referring to FIG. 112A, the primary actuator grip 10935 is in a lockedposition and situated at an initial position within the first channel10931. The primary actuator grip 10935 is locked in position asdescribed with reference to FIG. 110 . Referring to FIG. 112B, thedistal end 209 of the primary electrode 207 is positioned within adistal end 105 of the sheath 103, with the distal end 105 of the sheath103 having been positioned proximate the reference point 201. The distalend 213 of the secondary electrode 211 is positioned within the distalend 209 of the primary electrode 207.

Referring to FIG. 113A, the primary actuator grip 10935 is depressed soas to rotate the primary actuator grip 10935 to withdraw the latch 11037from a notch (not shown in FIG. 113A). With the primary actuator grip10955 in an unlocked position, the primary actuator grip 10935 and,thus, the primary actuator 10932, may be moved to extend the primaryelectrode. However, just rotating the primary actuator grip 10935 tounlock the primary actuator grip 10935 does not move the electrodes.Referring to FIG. 113B, the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207remains positioned within a distal end 105 of the sheath 103, with thedistal end 105 of the sheath 103 having been positioned proximate thereference point 201. The distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211remains positioned within the distal end 209 of the primary electrode207.

Referring to FIG. 114A, the primary actuator grip 10935 and, thus, theprimary actuator 10935 is moved in a direction 11423 and then releasedto lock the primary actuator grip 10935 at an extended position.Referring to FIG. 114B, the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207is extended beyond the distal end 105 of the sheath 103, with the distalend 209 piercing the target tissue 202 near the reference point 201. Thedistal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 remains positioned withinthe distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207. The secondary electrode211 moves with primary electrode 207 because, as shown in FIG. 111 , thesecondary actuator grip 11155 initially rests at a rearward end 11157(FIG. 111 ) of the secondary channel 11131 formed in the primaryactuator 10932. Thus, the movement of the primary actuator 10932 towardthe first end 10941 of the outer housing 10910 also moves the secondaryactuator 11152 toward the first end 10941 of the outer housing 10910, aspreviously described with reference to, for example, user interface 9401of FIGS. 94-101C. This concerted movement of the primary actuator 10932and the secondary actuator 11152 results in the concerted movement ofthe primary electrode 207 and the secondary electrode 211. Furthermovement of the secondary electrode 211 and/or the primary electrode 207may be accommodated by structures and their operation such as thoseperformed as described with reference to the user interface 9401 ofFIGS. 94-101C or the user interface 10201 of FIGS. 102-108C. Put anotherway, the user interface 9401 or the user interface 10201 may be adaptedto use one or more locking actuator grips as described with reference toFIGS. 109-114B to add the capacity to lock the actuators as desired.

Referring to FIG. 115 , another embodiment of the user interface 11501for positioning electrodes is shown. The user interface 11501 includescomponents that are moved parallel with an axis 11521 or rotated along acurve 11523 around the axis 11521, as further described below. As alsofurther described below, the user interface 11501 generally iscontrolled by moving actuators, such as the primary actuator 11532, byengaging a primary actuator grip 11535 that extends from a first channel11531 defined in an outer housing 11510. The primary actuator 11532 maybe moved along the axis 11521 by engaging and manipulating the primaryactuator grip 11535 and sliding the primary actuator grip 11535 alongthe axis 11521 toward a first end 11541 of the housing 11510. As furtherdescribed below, once the primary actuator 11532 is moved to a positionwhere the primary electrode is extended, the access to the secondaryactuator (not shown in FIG. 115 ) is provided. By shrouding thesecondary electrode actuator, the outer housing 11510 prevents thesecondary electrode actuator from being moved to extend the secondaryelectrode before it is desired to do so. The first channel 11531 isformed to permit partial retraction of the primary electrode with theprimary actuator grip 11532, as well as extension and retraction of theprimary electrode and the secondary electrode. The structure andoperation of these components are further described below.

The user interface 11501 includes a coupling 11520 to engage a port onan electrosurgical apparatus, such as a bronchoscope, as described withreference to FIGS. 1, 7, and 8 . The user interface 11501 also includesa sheath actuator 11504 to position a sheath (not shown in FIG. 115 ) aspreviously described with reference to FIGS. 7-11 . The sheath actuator11504 includes a slidable sleeve 11512 and a sheath lock 11506 to engagethe slidable sleeve 11512 and to secure the slidable sleeve 11512 inplace at the first end 11541 of the housing 11510, as described furtherbelow. It will be appreciated that, as described with reference to FIG.35 regarding another embodiment of the user interface 3501, a sheathactuator may be part of the bronchoscope or a separate device insertedbetween the user interface 11501 and the bronchoscope (not shown in FIG.115 ). Thus, in some embodiments the sheath actuator 11504 may not be apart of the user interface 11501. Also, although not shown in FIG. 115 ,as in embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 11 , leads from a switchablecurrent source are received at the user interface 11501 and a sheath(that contains primary and secondary electrodes) extends from the userinterface 11501 via the coupling 11520.

Referring to FIG. 116 , the user interface 11501 includes a number ofcomponents, including the outer housing 11510, the primary actuator11532, a secondary actuator 11652, and components of the sheath actuator11504, including the slidable sleeve 11512, the sheath lock 11506, andthe coupling 11520. Movement of the primary actuator 11532 providesaccess to the secondary actuator 11652 and a secondary actuator grip11655 when the primary actuator 11532 has been positioned as desired.

The primary actuator 11532, which may be manipulated by a user engagingthe primary actuator grip 11535, slides and rotates within the outerhousing 11510 as further described below with reference to FIG. 121A.The primary actuator 11532 is engaged with a primary electrode (notshown in FIG. 116 ) so that movement of the primary actuator 11532 movesthe primary electrode. The secondary actuator 11652 is engaged with asecondary electrode (not shown in FIG. 116 ) and causes the secondaryelectrode to move. The secondary actuator 11652 includes a secondaryactuator grip 11655 that enables a user to slide the secondary actuator11652, as described further below.

The secondary actuator grip 11655 moves within a second channel 11631 inthe primary actuator 11532. As a result, and as will be furtherdescribed below, only when the primary actuator 11532 has been moved toposition the primary electrode at a desired location can the primaryactuator 11532 be further moved to expose the second channel 11631 andthe secondary actuator grip 11655. Thus, the secondary actuator 11652can only be moved once the primary actuator 11532 has been moved to aprerequisite position, with the outer housing 11510 shrouding thesecondary electrode actuator 11632 until a preceding step to beperformed with the primary actuator 11532 is first accomplished.

Referring to FIGS. 117A, 117B, 118A, and 118B, operation of the sheathactuator 11504 is depicted. The operation of the sheath actuator 11504of the user interface 11501 is very similar to that of the sheathactuator 8204 of the user interface 8201 of FIGS. 88A, 89A, 90A, and 90Band other sheath actuators, as previously described. Referring to FIGS.96A and 96B and as used in conjunction with a user interface 11501, thesheath actuator 11504 controls a position of the sheath 103.Specifically, a position of the sheath 103 is controlled by sliding theslidable sleeve 11512 within the coupling 11520 and securing the sheath103 at the desired location by securing the slidable sleeve 11512 withthe sheath lock 11506. The sheath actuator 11504 may operate similarlyto the sheath lock 706 of FIG. 9 , as previously described. The slidablesleeve 11512 is fixably mounted to the outer housing 11510 and isslidably received within the coupling 11520. When the slidable sleeve11512 is situated to position the sheath 103 containing the electrodes207 and 211 at a desired location, the sheath lock 11506 is locked tosecure the slidable sleeve 11512 in place. The sheath lock 11506 may bea spring-loaded lock, a thumbscrew, or another similar mechanism aspreviously described with reference to FIGS. 7-10 to secure the slidablesleeve 11512 in place to secure the position of the sheath 103.

As previously described and as shown in FIG. 117B, in illustrativeembodiments the secondary electrode 211 is received within the primaryelectrode, with a distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211initially resting just within the distal end 209 of the primaryelectrode 207. In turn, the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207rests just within the distal end 105 of the sheath 103. Before thesheath actuator 8204 is used to position the distal end 105 of thesheath 103 near the reference point 201, the distal end of the sheath103 may initially rest at a position away from or immediately adjacentto the reference point 201.

Referring to FIGS. 118A and 118B and as used in conjunction with a userinterface 11501, the sheath actuator 11504 is used to move the distalend 105 of the sheath 103 to a position closer to the reference point201 as shown in FIG. 97B. A relative movement of the outer housing 11510toward the coupling 11520 by a distance 11819 moves the distal end 105of the sheath 103 a corresponding distance to move the distal end 105 ofthe sheath 103 closer to the reference point 201. In turn, the distalend 209 of the primary electrode 207 and the distal end 213 of thesecondary electrode 211 are also moved closer to the reference point201. The relative movement of the outer housing 11510 toward thecoupling 11520 is accomplished by the slidable sleeve 11512 being atleast partially received within the coupling 11520 and then secured withthe sheath lock 11506, as previously described. As shown in FIG. 118B,the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207 remains positionedwithin a distal end 105 of the sheath 103, with the distal end 105 ofthe sheath 103 having been positioned proximate the reference point 201.The distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 remains positionedwithin the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207.

FIGS. 119A-123C show how the user interface 11501 moves the electrodes207 and 211 based on manipulation of the user interface 11501. Referringto FIG. 119A with regard to the user interface 11501, the primaryactuator grip 11535 extends from the primary actuator 11532 upwardthrough the first channel 11531 of the outer housing 11510 and issituated at an initial position at a rear end 11937 within the firstchannel 11531. Referring to FIG. 119B, the primary actuator grip 11535extends from the primary actuator 11532 through the first channel 11531in the outer housing 11510. At the point of the cross-section, althoughthe secondary channel 11631 is exposed within the primary channel 11531,as shown in FIG. 119A, the secondary actuator grip 11655 remainsshrouded by the outer housing 11510. Also, in some embodiments, thesecondary actuator grip 11655 may be spring-loaded by a compressibleelement 11959. As a result, the secondary actuator grip 11655 may beboth shrouded and compressed by the outer housing 11510 when the primaryactuator grip 11535 is in the initial position.

With the primary actuator 11532 in an initial position, as shown in FIG.119C, the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207 remains positionedwithin a distal end 105 of the sheath 103, with the distal end 105 ofthe sheath 103 having been positioned proximate the reference point 201.The distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 remains positionedwithin the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207.

Referring to FIG. 120A, the primary actuator 11532 is moved to extendthe primary electrode 207, such as by the user engaging the primaryelectrode grip 11535 and sliding toward the first end 11541 of the outerhousing 11510. With the movement of the primary actuator 11532, thesecondary actuator grip 11655 and, thus, the secondary actuator 11652,are moved toward the first end 11541 of the outer housing 11510. In theinitial position, the secondary actuator 11655 rests at a trailing end11657 of the secondary channel 11631 defined in the primary actuator11531. As a result, moving the primary actuator grip 11535 toward thefirst end 11541 of the outer housing 11510 moves the secondary channel11631 and, thus, moves the secondary actuator grip 11655 and, in turn,the secondary actuator 11652.

Referring to FIG. 120B, the primary actuator grip 11535 extends from theprimary actuator 11532 through the first channel 11531 in the outerhousing 11510. Also, as in FIG. 120B, the secondary actuator grip 11655,unshrouded and uncompressed by the outer housing 11510, now extendsupwardly through the secondary channel 11631 and the primary channel11531. Referring to FIG. 120C, the distal end 209 of the primaryelectrode 207 is extended beyond the distal end 105 of the sheath 103,with the distal end 209 piercing the target tissue 202 near thereference point 201. Because the secondary electrode actuator 11652moves in concert with the primary electrode actuator 11532 in this firstextension of the primary electrode 207, the distal end 213 of thesecondary electrode 211 remains positioned at a same position relativeto the distal end 209 of the primary electrode 207.

Referring to FIG. 121A, the primary actuator grip 11535 and thesecondary actuator grip 11655, along with the primary actuator 11532 andthe secondary actuator 11652, are rotated along a curve 12123. Themovement of the primary actuator 11532 and the secondary actuator 11652relative to the outer housing 11510 places the secondary actuator grip11555 in a position to extend the secondary electrode in a next step, asfurther described with reference to FIGS. 122A-122C. Referring to FIG.121B the primary actuator grip 11535 and the secondary actuator grip11655 have been moved across the first channel 11531 in the outerhousing 11510. Referring to FIG. 121C, the distal ends 209 and 213 ofthe electrodes 207 and 211, respectively, do not change position. Therotational movement of the primary actuator grip 11532 and the secondaryactuator 11652 prepare the user interface 11501 for a next step, but donot move the electrodes 207 and 211.

Referring to FIG. 122A, the secondary actuator 11652 is advanced towardthe first end 11541 of the outer housing 11510 in a direction 12223,such as by a user sliding the secondary actuator grip 11655 toward thefirst end 11541 of the outer housing 11510. Referring to FIG. 122B, in across-sectional view taken along the axis 121B of FIG. 121A, thesecondary actuator grip 11655 is shown to an advanced position withinthe secondary channel 11631 and the primary channel 11531. Referring toFIG. 122C, the distal end 213 of the secondary electrode 211 is shown inits extended position beyond the distal end 209 of the primary electrode207, where the distal end 213 of secondary electrode 211 augers into thetarget tissue 202, as previously described with reference to otherembodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 121A and 122A, after the rotation of the primaryactuator grip 11535 and the secondary actuator grip 11655, the primaryactuator grip 11535 is positioned at a rearward section 12190 of theprimary channel 11531. Referring to FIG. 123A, with the secondaryactuator grip 11655 remaining in the extended position, the primaryactuator grip is drawn away from the first end 11541 of the outerhousing 11510 in a direction 12323. Referring to FIG. 123C, the primaryactuator 11535 is received in the rearward section 12190 of the primarychannel 11531. Referring to FIG. 123C, the movement of the primaryactuator grip 11535 and the resulting movement of the primary actuator11532 partially retracts the distal end 209 of the primary electrode207, thereby exposing the insulated section 215 to electrically separatethe distal ends 209 and 213 of the electrodes 207 and 211, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 124 , an illustrative method 12400 of positioningelectrodes for treatment is provided. The method 12400 starts at a block12405. At a block 12410, a sheath containing a primary electrode and asecondary electrode is extended, where the secondary electrode iscontained within the primary electrode and initially coupled to movewith the primary electrode as previously described, for example, withreference to FIGS. 8, 51, 61, 88A-89B, and 117A-118B. At a block 12420,the primary electrode is moved to a first location near a referencepoint as previously described, for example, with reference to FIGS. 14,38, 53, 64, 90A-90B, 97A-97B, 104-104C, 114A-114B, and 119A-119C. At ablock 12430, the primary actuator is moved to move a shrouding device topermit access to a secondary actuator configured to move the secondaryelectrode, as previously described, for example, with reference to FIGS.90A-90B, 100A-100C, 105A-105C, and 120A-120C. At a block 12440, thesecondary electrode is moved to a second location near the referencepoint as previously described, for example, with reference to FIGS. 20,45, 55, 66, 91A-91B, 101A-101C, 106A-106C, and 122A-122C. The method12400 ends at a block 12445, with the electrodes now positioned for theadministration of treatment.

Referring to FIG. 125 , an illustrative method 12500 of positioningelectrodes for treatment is provided. The method 12500 starts at a block12505. At a block 12510, a sheath containing a primary electrode and asecondary electrode is extended, where the secondary electrode iscontained within the primary electrode and initially coupled to movewith the primary electrode as previously described, for example, withreference to FIGS. 8, 51, 61, 88A-89B, and 117A-118B. At a block 12520,the primary electrode is moved to a first location near a referencepoint as previously described, for example, with reference to FIGS. 14,38, 53, 64, 90A-90B, 97A-97B, 104-104C, 114A-114B, and 119A-119C. At ablock 12530, the primary actuator is rotated to expose a secondaryactuator that previously was at least partially covered by the primaryactuator and coupled with the secondary electrode to permit access tothe secondary actuator to move the secondary electrode, as previouslydescribed, for example, with reference to FIGS. 100A-100C and 105A-105C.At a block 12540, the secondary electrode is moved to a second locationnear the reference point as previously described, for example, withreference to FIGS. 20, 45, 55, 66, 91A-91B, 101A-101C, 106A-106C, and122A-122C. The method 12500 ends at a block 12545, with the electrodesnow positioned for the administration of treatment.

Referring to FIG. 126 , an illustrative method 12600 of positioningelectrodes for treatment is provided. The method 12600 starts at a block12605. At a block 12610, a sheath containing a primary electrode and asecondary electrode is extended, where the secondary electrode iscontained within the primary electrode and initially coupled to movewith the primary electrode as previously described, for example, withreference to FIGS. 8, 51, 61, 88A-89B, and 117A-118B. At a block 12620,a primary actuator grip is slid within a channel defined in an outerhandle to move a primary actuator to move the primary electrode to afirst location near a reference point, as previously described, forexample, with reference to FIGS. 14, 38, 53, 64, 90A-90B, 97A-97B,104-104C, 114A-114B, and 119A-119C. At a block 12630, the primaryactuator is rotated to expose a secondary actuator that previously wasat least partially covered by the primary actuator and coupled with thesecondary electrode to permit access to the secondary actuator to movethe secondary electrode, as previously described, for example, withreference to FIGS. 100A-100C and 105A-105C. At a block 12640, thesecondary electrode is moved to a second location near the referencepoint as previously described, for example, with reference to FIGS. 20,45, 55, 66, 91A-91B, 101A-101C, 106A-106C, and 122A-122C. The method12500 ends at a block 12645, with the electrodes now positioned for theadministration of treatment.

It will be appreciated that the detailed description set forth above ismerely illustrative in nature and variations that do not depart from thegist and/or spirit of the claimed subject matter are intended to bewithin the scope of the claims. Such variations are not to be regardedas a departure from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A method of preparing electrodes for ablativeelectrical treatment of tissue at a reference point, the methodcomprising: extending a sheath containing a primary electrode and asecondary electrode, wherein the secondary electrode is contained withinthe primary electrode and initially coupled to move with the primaryelectrode; moving a primary actuator configured to move the primaryelectrode to a first location near a reference point; moving the primaryactuator to move a shrouding device to permit access to a secondaryactuator configured to move the secondary electrode; and moving thesecondary actuator to move the secondary electrode to a second locationnear the reference point.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein moving theprimary actuator to move the shrouding device includes rotating theprimary actuator relative to the secondary actuator.
 23. The method ofclaim 21, wherein moving the primary actuator to move the primaryelectrode includes slidably moving the primary actuator and moving thesecondary actuator to move the secondary electrode includes slidablymoving the secondary actuator.
 24. The method of claim 21, whereinmoving the primary actuator to move the primary electrode to the firstposition causes the secondary actuator to move the secondary electrodeto move in concert with the first electrode.
 25. The method of claim 21,further comprising locking the primary actuator to maintain the primaryelectrode at the first location.
 26. The method of claim 21, furthercomprising locking the secondary actuator to maintain the secondaryelectrode at the second location.
 27. The method of claim 21, furthercomprising moving the primary actuator away from a front end of an outerhousing to partially retract the primary electrode to a third locationrelative to the reference point.
 28. A method of preparing electrodesfor ablative electrical treatment of tissue at a reference point, themethod comprising: extending a sheath containing a primary electrode anda secondary electrode, wherein the secondary electrode is containedwithin the primary electrode and is initially coupled to move with theprimary electrode; moving a primary actuator coupled with the primaryelectrode to move the primary electrode to a first location near areference point; manipulating the primary actuator to expose a secondaryactuator that was previously at least partially covered by the primaryactuator and coupled with the secondary electrode to permit access tothe secondary actuator being configured to move the secondary electrode;and moving the secondary actuator to move the second electrode to asecond location near the reference point.
 29. The method of claim 28,wherein moving the primary actuator to move the primary electrodeincludes slidably moving the primary actuator and moving the secondaryactuator to move the secondary electrode includes slidably moving thesecondary actuator.
 30. The method of claim 28, wherein moving theprimary actuator to move the primary electrode to the first positioncauses the secondary actuator to move the secondary electrode to move inconcert with the first electrode.
 31. The method of claim 28, whereinmanipulating the primary actuator to expose the second actuator includesrotating the primary actuator to expose the secondary actuator that waspreviously covered by the primary actuator.
 32. The method of claim 28,further comprising: after the secondary actuator is moved to move thesecond electrode to the second position, the primary electrode isrotated back to an initial position at least partially covering thesecond electrode; and moving the primary actuator coupled with theprimary electrode to at least partially retract the primary electrodeaway from the reference point.
 33. The method of claim 28, furthercomprising releasing a primary actuator lock in order to enable movementof the primary actuator.
 34. The method of claim 28, further comprisingengaging a slidable actuator lock to maintain the second electrode inthe second location.
 35. A method of preparing electrodes for ablativeelectrical treatment of tissue at a reference point, the methodcomprising: extending a sheath that houses a primary electrode and asecondary electrode, wherein the secondary electrode is contained withinthe primary electrode and initially coupled to move with the primaryelectrode; manipulating a primary actuator grip within a channel definedin an outer handle to move a primary actuator to move the primaryelectrode to a first location near a reference point; manipulating theprimary actuator grip to expose a secondary actuator grip within thechannel to enable movement of a secondary actuator configured to movethe secondary electrode; and moving the secondary actuator grip withinthe channel to move the second electrode to a second location near thereference point.
 36. The method of claim 35, further comprisingreleasing a primary actuator lock in order to enable movement of theprimary actuator.
 37. The method of claim 36, further comprising, withthe primary electrode in the first location, locking the primaryactuator lock to maintain the primary electrode in the first location.38. The method of claim 35, wherein manipulating the primary actuatorgrip includes exposing the secondary actuator grip that was previouslycovered by a shrouding structure.
 39. The method of claim 35, furthercomprising locking the secondary actuator grip to maintain the secondelectrode in the second location relative to the reference point. 40.The method of claim 35, wherein manipulating the primary actuator gripto expose the second actuator grip includes rotating the primaryactuator grip to expose the secondary actuator grip that was previouslycovered by a shrouding structure.
 40. The method of claim 35, whereinmanipulating the primary actuator grip within the channel includessliding the primary actuator grip within the channel.